A look at how communities refuse to fund nursing homes and the consequences.

Calumet County voters were overwhelmingly opposed to a referendum to exceed state-imposed property tax caps Tuesday to bail out Calumet Homestead Rehabilitation Center, the county-owned nursing home.

The referendum’s opponents led by more than 2-to-1 with half the precincts reporting.

Voters were asked to let the county levy an extra $800,000 in property taxes for the next five years. The additional taxes would have amounted to about $27.50 a year on a $100,000 property.

The Homestead was self-sufficient until 2004, when it lost $295,000. It operated at a $532,144 deficit in 2005. County officials blame stagnant Medicaid reimbursement rates, which are about $117 per day, compared with the county’s $160 a day costs. Medicaid is the federal government’s health care plan for low-income elderly and disabled people.

The referendum’s failure means the county will need to find money elsewhere in its budget to subsidize the Homestead. The potential results could be a hiring freeze and waiting lists for human services programs.

The Homestead has 90 beds. Calumet County is one of 40 counties that operate nursing homes, including neighboring Winnebago and Outagamie counties. Both subsidize their nursing homes with millions in property tax dollars.

The federal government only subsidizes a certain amount….usually this number is around $120.00 a day roughly….when the costs of care is higher, each state, or county, must make up the difference. This often means higher taxes for people; but in a trend we’re seeing lately, the funds are not being supported by the people. They feel overtaxed as it is. So counties have to look at other programs to make cuts from.