By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — The future of the Portage County Health Care Center looks a little brighter after Thursday night.

Health care committee officials have passed a draft resolution that will likely see a November referendum on whether or not taxes will be raised in order to keep the The Portage County Health Care Center alive. The proposal will ask residents if the health care center is worth increasing property taxes by approximately $1.3 million a year from 2019-2023.

Alarm bells sounded in 2017, when according to the 2018 county budget, the health care center had a $920,883 deficiency, which if pushed to the limit would mean the facility would not be able to fund itself. An increase in the levy limit could keep the center going temporarily.

Results from a most recent state survey indicated that a large majority of residents not only wanted to keep the 80-year-old facility, but keep it county-owned, as well. However, the reality these residents face is how to fund the facility, and whether or not to go forward with potential options of renovation, partnering with the private sector, or constructing a new home completely.

While not official as of yet, according to County Executive Chris Holman, the resolution was passed in concept.

“Essentially, their decision to endorse this resolution in concept begins the process of moving it along so that it can be brought to the county board with enough time to get it to the county clerk to meet the statutory deadline of having it to the county clerk 70 days prior to the election,” said Holman. “As a part of that process, it needs to go to Finance and Executive Operations. Those two committees will meet with the Health Care Committee to further discuss the resolution.”

If the referendum fails, the center would be on its last leg, financially, through 2019. However, with popular demand of the center, it doesn’t seem likely that the referendum could fail. Officials are under the impression that during the time it would take to keep the center running, a sustainable source of funding would be secured.

The measure will seek approval from a joint committee on Aug. 6, where they will hammer out specific figures, and then through a special August county board set for Aug. 15 for final and full approval before the regular monthly board meeting.