The cost of employee health care is a major issue being discussed by Butler County and the union representing 200 Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center workers.

County Commissioner Jim Eckstein said at the meeting Wednesday the county wants to significantly increase health care contribution paid by workers by reopening the four-year contract with SEIU Healthcare that ends Dec. 31, 2014.

Eckstein said it’s unfair of county administration and elected officials to expect Sunnyview workers to pay a much higher amount than the 1.5 percent paycheck deduction they would continue to pay.

“That doesn’t seem right to me,” he said.

Eckstein said county officials should lead by example and pay more than the 1.5 percent before asking union workers to do so.

He didn’t know what the exact increase in employee costs would be, but said the new contribution would be based on a percentage of the insurance premium instead of employee salaries.

When Eckstein tried to elaborate further later in the meeting, solicitor Mike English interrupted him. citing legal issues.

English said in an interview discussing contract negotiations publicly could be construed as an unfair labor practice.

While English wouldn’t divulge what is being addressed in talks with the union, he conceded talks are under way.

“That’s all we can say,” English said at the meeting.

Eckstein again accused fellow commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton of planning to sell Sunnyview, which is in the red.

The nursing home is projected to lose $1.5 million this year. However, $450,000 of that deficit is for a balloon payment on a 30-year bond, which funded renovations in the 1980s.

Sunnyview lost more than $800,000 in 2012.

“The other two commissioners think it should be privatized,” Eckstein said.

McCarrier denied any decision was made but did not rule out an eventual sale.

“We don’t know what we want to do,” he said in an interview. “I don’t feel Sunnyview should be a burden on the taxpayers of the county.”

McCarrier said the reason behind reopening the contract is to save money and cut the deficit.

He said the goal is for Sunnyview to break even.

Pinkerton agreed no decision has been made on whether to sell Sunnyview.

He pointed out Eckstein is the only commissioner who keeps brining up the possibility of a sale.