By SCOTT ALLEN, The Herald Journal
With county revenue expected to take a large hit in 2010, the White County commissioners and council announced yesterday they would not renew Lakeview Home's budget for next year.
"This is my home, and I love my home," said Alicia Fletcher, a 2-year resident of the county home. "It's a strong home, and it works in every way."
Lakeview Home, at 5271 Norway Rd., is a county-owned facility that rents rooms, the majority of this year to eight residents, at a price that includes prepared meals and in some cases light assistance. Residents come and go as they please.
But the home has long operated at a loss, and with decreased revenues expected in 2010 county leaders made the decision not to fund the home next year.
"Lakeview has been an institution that has been around for a long, long time, and our problem was that we just couldn't get the residents," said council president Richard "Buzz" Horton.
Horton explained that last year Lakeview Home's expenses totaled $216,731.02, and its revenue from things like residents' rent payments was $77,743.
"The shortfall was $138,988.02," Horton said. "We just couldn't get our numbers up to where we could make it efficient."
Lakeview Home will remain open until the end of this year, until the new budget takes effect.
But before the council made the decision to cut Lakeview's budget, Horton explained they were obligated to ensure the current residents had options.
"The number one consideration was that those residents had a place to go," he said. "That was mandatory before anything, and that they have choices of where to go."
Horton said that Carroll and Benton Counties, which both have county homes, have been in contact and are interested in providing living space for Lakeview's residents.