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Show a maffer of priorities For many years, we have felt that the lack of a nursing home facility in Moab was a need that '. should be given the serious consideration of residents I of this community and county. A survey of facilities ; in the Four Corners area . . . a number in much smaller communities than Moab... has proven the ' lack of sufficient beds to satisfy the needs of the general area, particularly beds in facilities modern enough to be considered with any degree of pride t by the owners, either private or public. : We have followed the work of the Nursing Home Committee, and feel they have performed a real public service in objectively analyzing the situation prior to bringing the issue to a public vote. Without any particular unanimity of opinion two years ago "r when they began their studies, they have become j convinced that a facility is needed. 5 As the date of election has drawn near, we have ; watched the culmination of activities closely, and t feel the matter has been given sufficient opportunity t for public dialogue to provide for an informed electorate. We have also noted the surfacing of '. opposition to the issue, and feel it is sincere and well intended. I One criticism has been that Moab's hospital : should be more fully utilized by bringing unused portions to use as an extended care facility. Memor-; Memor-; ies are very short which dorft remember that this ; point was recommended by the Hospital Board two years ago, and bogged down at the County Commission level when officials began receiving criticism that the hospital's effectiveness as an emergency care i facility would be dilluted if such extended care modifications were made, j Let's face it. We have a fine hospital with ample room for community growth. Even at its most inefficient in-efficient levels of operating loss, it has only cost ; ' " axpay'efs a maximum of two mills in a year to pay . costs incurred in addition to revenues earned. That's pretty cheap for such a fine facility, and many ' . "years it didn't cost that much. If the hospital is ; -,' running at a loss, let's encourage efficiencies to cut the losses. But above all. let's maintain our i; -;' fine hospital at current effectiveness. ! - We don't disagree with opponents of the Nursing Home issue who say such a facility is going to be ; costly to taxpayers. We feel that with the debt retirement plan worked out by Commissioners, where . 75 per cent of costs will be borne by Revenue Sharing I monies, that one mill additional to local levies is .; - insignificant. It is a good plan and should be ap-; ap-; ; plauded. If Revenue Sharing funds are lost in future years, the addition of three more local mills would ; not be insignifficant, and like a lot of others, we're not sure Revenue Sharing is here to stay. And that is only a portion of the cost. We are sure that at least for a year or two, tax monies " would be needed to supplement patient revenues, at least until occupancy levels raise to a point of ;! I- self-sufficiency. ;; i But we have to analyze a set of priorities in County spending when we speak of mill levies ;; and tax dollars. First, let's see what a mill rep- resents: One mill will bring in approximately $20 .' thousand in property taxes. Currently, the total " ', levy to taxpayers is in the neighborhood of 70 to .; 80, depending on where in the County they live. '; ; Grand County spends annually some $20 thous- ; '- and in industrial promotion endeavors. It spends ' several thousand a year in advertising and promo-1 promo-1 tion of the travel industry. It has budgeted $10 thousand this year for improvements to the rodeo arena, and underwrites an annual rodeo. It spends money to kill mosquitoes, to maintain a library, ; to involve in a civil defense effort, to control fire, aid agriculture and in many other areas. If we feel the County should not spend tax dollars on nursing homes because they would be benefiting only a small segment of its population, then we should also subscribe sub-scribe to the theory that the County should not be involved in the ownership of a million dollar-plus 1 airport, for certainly the vast majority of residents have never ever used that facility. The fact is, a County operation is a complex one with multitudinous responsibilities. Keeping priorities in focus is the greatest responsibility , placed on Commissioners. As a matter of community pride, and in the interest of filling a community need, we feel adequate care for the aged should be a high priority item. We sincerely hope that voters of (irand County agree with us next Tuesday. |