San Diego County Provides $6 Million To Nursing Home Construction Project

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to provide $6 million to help rebuild Santee-based Edgemoor Hospital, a county-run nursing home for low-income and chronically ill patients, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The money, which will be used to cover the pre-construction costs for replacing the facility, will be borrowed from the county's share of the national tobacco settlement. The county designated about $65 million in bonds two years ago to finance the project. County officials expect to recoup roughly 50% of the county's contribution from the federal government, while the sale or lease of property around the hospital will offset the rest of its contribution. The hospital offers long-term, 24-hour care to people with severe physical and mental problems who have been denied admission to private nursing facilities. Pamela Smith, director of the county Aging and Independent Services, said that the building had "no safety hazards," adding that it was "just a tremendously old, inefficient facility." The county currently pays a $4.9 million annual subsidy to offset operating costs at the facility, but will contribute about $1.3 million per year once the new facility is built, Smith said. Construction is expected to begin in November. The facility is slated for completion by 2007 (Chacon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/17).