CAROL DeMARE

COLONIE -- Albany County Comptroller Michael Conners, citing an $18.8 million overrun last year at the county nursing home, called Thursday for an authority to run what he says is a poorly managed facility.

Taxpayers have subsidized the Albany County Nursing Home to the tune of $91.2 million over six years. Last year, "set a new high-water mark for operating loss," Conners told legislators this week.

On Thursday, he reiterated his recommendation that an authority run the 300-bed Albany Shaker Road home.

"The county is responsible for providing care for the indigent; it's not an option, it's a mandate," Conners said. "The nursing home is one of the most important obligations we have to the poor."

"For seven years we've been pushing the county executive to improve quality of care," he said. "If we think the airport is important enough to bring in an independent authority to provide professional management, we should do the same ... at the nursing home."

Conners suggested "the commitment" isn't there from County Executive Michael Breslin.

"If you lost that kind of money and you had the best-rated public nursing home in the area, you could make an argument, but to have one of the worst rated in the state is shameful, and we lost $18.8 million," the comptroller said.

Kerri Battle, Breslin spokeswoman, said the county has a long-term care council looking at the nursing home and other long-term care options, including community-based services for those who prefer to remain at home.

But for those who need nursing home care, the reimbursements from state and federal governments don't cover the cost, she said, and the taxpayer subsidy is necessary.

The situation is not unique to the county, Battle said. Government-owned nursing homes statewide are draining taxpayer resources, she said.

Conners opposed last year's hiring of Gene Larrabee as nursing home director. Thursday he said Larrabee's last nursing home in Florida was poorly rated.

Breslin is "happy" with Larrabee, Battle said. The director closed a second facility, Ann Lee Home, moving all residents into one building ahead of schedule, and is now focusing on plans for a new nursing home.

Christine Benedict, the legislature's Republican leader, supports Conners. She said employees have complained to her about the home, asking for whistle-blower protection.

"Short of calling for (Larrabee's) resignation, I don't know what else we can do to make it right," Benedict said. "Maybe we should look at an authority. The airport is a class act."

Battle said Breslin will weigh options, including an authority.

DeMare can be reached at 454-5431 or by e-mail at cdemare@timesunion.com.