By ANTHONY BOTTAN
The proposed budget would cut state financial support for the nursing home by $165,000.
Last year, the governor's budget plan cut more than $480,000 in funding for Progressive Care. The Senate and Assembly rejected the proposed cuts, however, and the final state budget restored $402,270 to the facility.
The trend of cutting, and then restoring, funds after vocal protests is nothing new to Michael Tartaglia, the facility's administrator. "Whomever the sitting governor is - Pataki, Cuomo, Spitzer - they always propose large-scale cutbacks," Tartaglia said. "But after people or the union protest, the cuts have been whittled down to a more manageable number."
The 100-bed facility, which offers short-term rehabilitation and long-term care for elderly residents from neighboring communities, is in danger of losing staff if the state cuts its funding. That, in turn, Tartaglia said, would affect services. "Every little bit hurts, and since 75 percent of the nursing home's expenses are staff positions, there will probably be some staff cutbacks," he said.
Tartaglia added that if the facility had to make staff cuts, there would be a higher ratio of patients to staff and amenities would be eliminated, because it is a "labor-intensive business."
Marjorie Menkin, a 91-year-old resident of Progressive Care and a member of its resident council, said that if the funding cuts are approved, she is not sure what amenities would be first to go. "It can't be cut any further. We don't have anything posh here," Menkin said. "We have a decent standard, and I don't think there is room to cut anything."
Before moving to the nursing home four years ago, Menkin lived in East Rockaway for 49 years. She chose Progressive Care because she had heard it was the best facility around, and since she moved in, she said, she has been thoroughly impressed with its staff and overall cleanliness. The one thing she would not mind seeing reduced, Menkin said, are the food portions, because they are too big for her to finish. "They give very big meals, but I can live with less food," she said.
New York State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre) and Assemblyman Bob Barra (R-Lynbrook) criticized Spitzer's proposed funding cuts and vowed to get them restored. "It's disturbing that Gov. Spitzer would again propose cutting state funding for our local nursing homes," Skelos said. "We have an obligation to protect our seniors and their quality of life."
Barra echoed those sentiments. "We'll have some budget fight on our hands until this travesty is dropped and full funding is restored," he said. "Governor Spitzer is making yet another error in judgment."
The state Legislature must pass a budget for 2008-09 by March 31.
Comments about this story? ABottan@liherald.com or (516)-569-4000 ext. 246.
