It's one thing to try and privatize janitorial services but privatizing the Cayuga County Certified Home Health Agency doesn't appear to be a very smart move.

To look for more efficiencies within this CCCHHA without jeopardizing or eliminating the care of patients is one thing but privatization just for the sake of ‘it appears that it's a good thing to do so let's run it up the flag pole and ...”

The prime objective of this privatization --- I assume --- is to save the county some money. And we all want that, especially yours truly.

But it also means that if the county privatizes this agency, this new non-governmental outfit's first objective will be: how much money flows to the bottom line (aka PROFITS) and not necessarily what's best for the sick people (aka TAXPAYERS) being served.

Is that really what Cayuga County needs or wants? And does the county really believe that these sick people will get the same type of care as they're getting now, out of a new “for profit” organization?

I don't think so and I don't think that a majority of the people and the County Legislature does either.

Additionally, “The program served 1,351 patients last year, offering a full range of services from skilled nursing to occupational therapy to speech language pathology.”

And from published reports, Elane Daly, the county health and human services director, said that “The $3.7 million program is budgeted to bring in $225,000 MORE than its expenses this year...” Granted, $3.7 million is a lot of money BUT this program is expected to turn in a ‘surplus' and not a deficit, so why is the county looking to privatize this agency?

What is it that the County Manager Wayne Allen, knows that everybody else doesn't know?

Or is this just some political retribution that's being played out at the expense of the sick and infirmed and the 66 nurses and others within this Home Health Agency?

Say it isn't so, Wayne.

Now, privatizing the Cayuga County Managers' position. That makes sense!

Bill Balyszak

Auburn