The Champaign County Board took a step Tuesday night towards a possible sale of the county nursing home, by voting to authorize their county administrator to seek a broker to facilitate the sale. County Board members in a committee-of-the-whole meeting as the Finance Committee voted 15 to 5 to authorize the issuing of a “Request for Information” or RFI, advertising for a broker to facilitate the sale or transfer of the financially strapped nursing home to a private owner.

The Champaign County Board was presented with financial projections Thursday night that show the Champaign County Nursing Home running out of money later this year — perhaps as soon as June. 

The Champaign County Board discussed the future of its financially troubled county nursing home Tuesday night, one week after voters rejected a county tax hike for the facility, but gave permission for its possible sale. 

The Champaign County Board is expected to vote Thursday night on whether to place a referendum for facilities on the ballot for this November.  The initiative would raise the county’s sales tax one quarter of a percent for a period of 12 years.  Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline spoke with Champaign County Administrator Rick Snider about the proposal, including plans for the county jail.

Voters in Champaign County could be asked this fall to support a 1/4-cent sales tax to address facilities needs. County Board Chair Rick Snider says priorities include closing the downtown Urbana jail, and expansion of the satellite site, as well closing the Brookens Administrative Center to move county government to downtown Urbana. The county board would have to approve the plan by August 18 for the question to appear on the November ballot.