Legislators OK rate hike for health facility
BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

BATH — A proposal to increase a room rate at the Steuben County Health Care Facility barely received enough support by the Steuben County legislators Monday.

The rate increase of $5 per day is needed to keep pace with the cost of care at the county facility, said facility Administrator John Zehr. The change was limited to those who pay through private insurers and don’t receive Medicaid or Medicare benefits.

The current rate for private-pay patients is $220 per day.

Zehr told legislators the increase would put the facility in the mid-range of private rates across the county. The increase would mean about $12,000 more for the facility next year, he said.

But Legislator Gary Swackhamer, RHornell, said it was unfair to single out the few private-pay residents at the facility.

Swackhamer also objected to the 6 percent state tax increase, saying county leaders should first talk to state Assemblyman James Bacalles, R-Corning, and state Sen. George Winner, R-Elmira.

Legislator Richard Argentieri, DHornell, said the vote should have been tabled until the state representatives had been contacted.

But Legislator Robert Nichols, RTuscarora, said delaying the vote would not affect the tax.

“This is not the first year they’ve taxed us, and it won’t be the last,” Nichols said.

Swackhamer, Argentieri and legislators Fran Gehl, D-Corning City, Thomas Schwartz, R-Corning Town, Thomas McIntyre, R-Campbell, John Walsh, RWheeler, and DeWitt Baker, R-Corning Town, voted against the rate increase.

In the close count, the absence of legislators David Stachnik, R-Hammondsport, and the late Lldon Jamison, R-Canisteo, counted as votes against the room rate increase and nearly defeated the proposal, 9-8.

But in close legislative votes, the populations of the legislative districts are also weighed into each vote. The combined weight of the eight legislators voting for the rate increase led to its passage.

Voting for the increase were legislators Donald Creath, R-Corning City, Patrick Donnelly, R-Bath, Ron Nielsen, R-Bath, Patrick McAllister, R-Wayland, Kenneth Isaman, R-Hornellsville, Dan Farrand, RRathbone, Robert Nichols, R-Tuscarora, and Philip Roche, R-Erwin.