By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Winnebago County Board members decided in a split vote Thursday that they won’t raise taxes to support the operation of River Bluff Health & Rehabilitation.
The board’s decision, which was decided by a single vote, comes after 62% of voters in June favored increasing the tax levy for River Bluff from 0.0445% to 0.1%. The increase was expected to cost the owner of a $150,000 home an additional $25 a year.
However, board members in favor of freezing the tax levy said the financial outlook for the nursing facility has changed since the referendum was presented to voters. They now believe River Bluff has the funding it needs to operate this year, and the tax increase can be held off until 2024.
With that new outlook in mind, a narrow majority opted to freeze the levy as a means to provide relief to taxpayers.
“I’m not in favor of this amendment to raise the levy for River Bluff, only because we don’t need the money,” Board member Paul Arena, a Republican who represents District 7, said. “There is enough money in our aggregate funds to properly maintain River Bluff, at least over the next year.”
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Arena said that the referendum was presented “at a time when we expected our revenues would be less than what they actually turned out to be.” He said if that situation changes, the board doesn’t have to wait until 2024 to increase the levy; it could do so next year.
“I’m supportive of River Bluff, but I’m not in support of raising taxes unnecessarily,” he said.
The County Board will use $1.3 million from its general fund to cover the gap in River Bluff’s operational expenses this fiscal year.
The board voted 10-9 with one member absent to keep the tax levy flat and forgo raising it for River Bluff. Before the vote, two River Bluff employees implored the board to raise the tax to fund their operations.
“The citizens of this county voted to increase the levy not in 2024 but now,” said Shelly Hutcheson, assistant director of nursing for River Bluff. “Some voters are upset and feel ignored. Your elected to be the voice of the people you represent.”
Hutcheson said she’s worked at the facility for about 30 years and she’s seen several occasions where residents throw their support behind the facility even when board members will not.
“The majority of the taxpayers who voted think the small increase in their property tax is well worth it to make sure that River Bluff not only remain in the county, but is able to thrive,” she said. “What was the point of the referendum if you weren’t going to grant the wishes of the voters?”
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Board member Angie Goral, a Democrat from District 13 who has been one of the facility’s most vocal supporters since the referendum was introduced, said the tax raise is needed not only to fund operations but to replenish its dwindled reserve fund.
“We don’t need a zero balance. We need a good balance so we can go back to having a reserve there,” she said. “They need to have a reserve and you’re not doing it. You’re putting them at zero. Bad business.”
How they voted
In favor of River Bluff increase: Jaime Salgado, D-12; Dave Tassoni, D-5; Fred Wescott, R-17; Aaron Booker, R-1; Angela Fellars, D-19; Angie Goral, D-13; Joe Hoffman, D-10; Tim Nabors, D-14; Dorothy Redd, D-18
Against River Bluff increase: Steve Schultz, R-3; John F. Sweeney, R-20; Jim Webster, R-2; Paul Arena, R-7; John Butitta, R-8; Jean Crosby, R-16; Burt Gerl, R-15; Brad Lindmark, R-4; Kevin McCarthy, R-11; Keith McDonald, R-6
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.