County raises Restorium rates

BONNERS FERRY — After considerable deliberation and opposition, Boundary County Commissioners unanimously agreed to increase the room rates at the Boundary County Restorium.

On Oct. 1, current residents will pay an additional five percent and new residents will pay $2,500. For new residents, the cost of a large room and small room would be the same. The difference between the rooms is a larger closet.

The proposal was a compromise between the increases recommended by the Boundary County Restorium Advisory Board and the amount needed to significantly reduce county funding.

The Restorium Advisory Board recommended a three percent increase in room rates (which includes room, board and care). The board also proposed raising the small room rate to the same rate as the large room rate because the service level is the same, said Larry Dirks, chairman of the Restorium Advisory Board.

Commissioner Dan Dinning said all Restorium residents would need to pay $2,800 to eliminate taxpayer support through the levy.

However, commissioners didn’t want to impact current residents with a large increase in rates. Therefore, they proposed $2,500 for new residents this year and a five percent increase for current residents the next two years.

“Even with what is proposed, there is still a levy commitment,” said Dinning.

“We’re anticipating it will take five to 10 years to show the effect of new rates (on the levy commitment).”

Last year, the county’s levy commitment from taxpayer dollars was $312,146. This upcoming year’s commitment is about $391,000.

“Users should bear a larger portion of the cost,” said LeAlan Pinkerton, Boundary County Commissioner. “Taxpayers do care and there are taxpayers on both sides. Some are shocked at the cost of the Restorium to taxpayers.”

More than 560 citizens signed a petition in favor of taxpayer dollars funding the Restorium, said Judy Dirks.

“Most citizens are proud to have tax dollars go to the Restorium,” said Jeannie Robinson. “The Restorium was intended to be funded by taxpayers.”

Former Boundary County Commissioner Ron Smith said that in his 16 years as a commissioner not one person objected to the levy for the Restorium and there always was support for it.

“I don’t think the majority of Boundary County minds tax dollars going to the Restorium,” said Smith.

Pinkerton said the commissioners have a fiscal responsible to the entire county, including the elderly who are staying at home and not using the Restorium.

“A balance between who uses and who pays,” said Walt Kirby, Boundary County Commissioner. “Right now, it is heavily taxpayer funded.”

Kirby initially was opposed to the $2,500 rate for new residents but not to equalizing small and large room rates and raising rates five percent each year. Then after deliberation he changed his mind on his opposition.

“It’s a county charity we do for those people,” said Kirby. “When Medicare doesn’t cover it the county does.”

Medicare is not raising rates fast enough to cover the costs, said Ken English.

“From a business standpoint, I have to raise the rates,” said Kirby. “From a emotional standpoint, I don’t want to raise the rates.”

“We’re making hard decisions for the Restorium’s future to stay in place,” said Pinkerton. “It’s still a bargain in the market that exists.”

Pinkerton motioned to go forward with the proposed rates and Dinning stepped down to second the motion at the continued public hearing on Aug. 27. After much murmur of “don’t do it” in the crowd, all three commissioners voted in favor of the increase.

“We would be remiss if we didn’t plan,” said Dinning. “I want it to be here in 10 to 15 years and be operational.”