BISMARCK  (Bismarck Tribune)— As a result of stagnant state funding over the past two years, some nursing homes in North Dakota have engaged in deficit spending, dipping into savings and denying raises to employees.

The Bismarck Tribune reports, for the first time last legislative session, lawmakers did not bump funding for nursing facilities in the state.

Shelly Peterson, president of the North Dakota Long-Term Care Association, says, as a result, nursing homes borrowed from banks, went into reserves and “literally depleted any money that they had,”

Last week, Gov. Doug Burgum presented his budget plan that includes a 1 percent increase in funding for nursing homes in each year of the 2019-21 biennium. Meanwhile, these facilities are seeking a 3 percent increase to help with recruiting and retaining staff and paying for growing costs, such as building maintenance and employee health insurance.

Craig Christianson, CEO of Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City, said the proposed 1 percent increase “fell short” of what is needed to account for the rising costs of medical supplies and equipment, as well as employee benefits.

He says, “After two years of operating at a loss and starting the new budget year at a loss, we truly need our governor and legislature to support a 3 percent inflator in 2019 and 2020 for long-term care.”

Sen. Judy Lee, R- West Fargo, who chairs the Senate Human Services Committee, said she’s aware of some facilities that are using reserves in order to stay open. Lee said funding long-term care is a priority for legislators, and she supports at least a 3 percent increase.

She adds, “This is a priority for us to take care of our vulnerable population in the best way that we can. We may not end up at 3 (percent), but I certainly support 3 percent and I hope we can at least come pretty close to that.”