BUTLER TWP — With more state cutbacks on the horizon, the medical director at Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center says county-owned nursing homes are needed more than ever.

Dr. William DiCuccio said at the Sunnyview board meeting Thursday privately owned facilities will be reluctant to service the indigent.

"I see dark clouds on the horizon," he said, referring to the state's pending deficit in the 2010-11 budget.

DiCuccio said an aging population also will impact nursing home care.

"County-owned facilities are crucial to the health care equation," he said.

The county commissioners last year reviewed whether they should keep or sell Sunnyview. In February, they opted to keep the nursing home in county hands.

The board Thursday also discussed having more money to fund future upgrades.

The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania allotted $4,000 more to Sunnyview than officials originally believed.

The total amount available to Sunnyview is $114,000. A possible use for the money would be a conversion to a wireless building.