Sumter County officials have indicated they are quite comfortable with allowing a possible new veterans nursing home being built in Marion County.
State veterans affairs officials have indicated that more nursing homes are needed for the state’s aging veteran population.
Five clusters of counties are under consideration for the new veterans nursing homes, one of which consists of Marion, Putnam, and Sumter.
“Florida already has six veterans’ state nursing homes and one veteran’s assisted living facility. With a population of more than 1.5 million veterans — the third largest in the nation — we saw a need for additional homes. Indeed, the independent study confirmed the need and suggested different areas of the state where there was the greatest need,” said Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs spokesman Steve Murray.
However, the 120-bed veterans nursing home would come with a pricetag for county taxpayers, said Sumter County Administrator Bradley Arnold.
It has been suggested that among the items the county would have to offer up to land the facility would include:
• Donation of 20 acres of property;
• About $500,000 in financial support;
• Infrastructure including water and sewer;
• Sacrifice of impact fees and property taxes.
If the facility is ultimately built across the line in Marion County, residents on both sides of the county line would likely benefit from the 180 jobs to be created in the area.
For veterans transitioning to a nursing home, Marion County would be a short drive from Sumter County, he added.
“It would not be a burden for family visiting the veterans at the facility,” he said.
Meanwhile, there has been no shortage of private companies breaking ground on assisted living facilities in the area, Arnold added.
In their meeting Tuesday evening at Colony Cottage Recreation Center, Sumter County Commissioners indicated they concurred with Arnold’s assessment of the situation.