The Butler County commissioners this morning hired the Chicago firm of Marcus & Millichap to market the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for sale.

County officials maintain Sunnyview’s deficit makes it necessary to privatize it.

The nursing home, which has a total $20 million budget for 2014, is projected to lose $838,452 next year.

The vote was 2 to 1. Commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton supported hiring the firm.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein dissented.

Most of the roughly 60 people attending the meeting were there to support keeping Sunnyview county-owned.