BUTLER TWP — Although the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center wrote off more than $1 million in resident care fees over a seven-year span, that amount is less than 1 percent of the total amount charged for that care during that time.

Covering 2003 through 2009, the Butler County-owned nursing home provided $111.9 million in care. Of that amount, less than $1.1 million went unpaid.

County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton said at a Sunnyview board meeting Thursday the percentage of loss was relatively minor.

"I don't know many businesses that can lose less than 1 percent," he said.

Bill Kepple, Sunnyview's fiscal director, said the write-offs won't affect the bottom line because the money to pay for that comes from a reserves account designated for that purpose.

"It will not affect the year's income," he said.

After pulling the less than $1.1 million out of that allowance account, $120,000 will remain.

Pinkerton said he is glad the write-offs do not affect the annual net loss of Sunnyview.

"I would have had a heart attack," he said jokingly.

Sunnyview is estimated to have lost roughly $500,000 for 2009. The county's final internal audit is not finalized yet to have a complete deficit number.

While Sunnyview has a net deficit, the nursing home generates revenue from an operational standpoint.

The commissioners in 2009 and earlier this year discussed the possibility of selling Sunnyview because of its annual deficit.

But because that deficit is shrinking, the commissioners last month opted to not sell the facility now.

Although county and Sunnyview officials were pleased the write-offs amount to less than 1 percent, they did not like to process them in a lump sum.

Kepple said the write-offs now will be processed quarterly each year.

He said unpaid bills often result after insurers reject claims.