If the Butler County commissioners are serious about the possibility of selling Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, or bringing in a private company to operate it, they ought to already be researching the experiences of other counties that have opted for similar moves.

The commissioners should not approve any change in the local home’s operation before obtaining a clear understanding of the plusses and potential problems associated with such a decision. Having such knowledge in place could help to avoid some of the troubling issues some other counties have experienced, especially in instances where a private operator was brought in.

Some county facilities sold or contracted out to others have gotten into trouble with the state over deficiencies.

Actually, Butler County has had experience with a private operator in the past, eventually opting not to renew the contract primarily for monetary reasons. Commissioner James Kennedy was a commissioner when the private operator was on board, but Commissioners Dale Pinkerton and James Lokhaiser were not. Both need to ensure that they have a comprehensive understanding of all that is at stake before casting a vote to put the home’s future in the hands of others, under whatever arrangement.

Still, the prospect of a $1 million deficit in Sunnyview’s operation this year is not something that the county should be willing to accept without considering available alternatives. It is right for the taxpayers to demand a decision or decisions that represent their financial best interests, even if they would most prefer that some way be found to keep the current operating arrangement in place.

The commissioners regard contract concessions by Sunnyview employees as a key to easing some of the home’s fiscal pressures. In addition to a 1.5 percent paycheck deduction to help pay for employee health care benefits, the county wants to revise scheduling options and eliminate the 11-person laundry department. According to the county, axing the laundry department would itself save about $250,000 — about 25 percent of the projected 2009 deficit.

Meanwhile, the 1.5 percent paycheck deduction also would make a significant dent in the deficit figure.

The Sunnyview issue is not just about saving money. The issue also is about keeping intact the kind of quality care needed by the frail individuals who depend on it and who now receive it.

Sunnyview is known for quality care and respected for its commitment to a high standard of service.

All three current commissioners are committed to maintaining that, and that’s why an eventual decision to sell the home or bring in a private operator once again would be difficult, because of the potential unknowns. With this county’s government continuing to oversee the home, it would be less likely that some of the problems other counties have experienced with their homes over the past couple of decades would be repeated here — because of the solid track record this county has compiled in operating Sunnyview.

Still, even if a concessions agreement is achieved between Sunnyview workers and the county, the commissioners should not guarantee, by way of that pact, that Sunnyview won’t be sold, or that the county will not eventually opt for a private operator. The fiscal realities surrounding the home’s operation must guide county leaders on whatever approach is selected in the future; big ongoing deficits don’t portend continuation of the current operational arrangement for very long.

It is Kennedy’s opinion that the request for proposals from other parties should not be linked to the contract talks under way now with Sunnyview employees. “The overriding issue is the viability,” he said, referring to Sunnyview being in the red. He said he wants to consider the best option for the county, regardless of the worker contract that eventually is ratified.

That is an excellent stance.

But Commissioner Dale Pinkerton also isn’t wrong in embracing a tougher stand. At a Sunnyview board meeting Thursday, he threatened to sell the home if union workers don’t approve a concessions contract.

Because of the home’s impact on county spending, the contract situation cannot remain in limbo indefinitely. Pinkerton is right in weighing the long-term possibilities resulting from contract negotiations remaining unfinished — or approval of a pact that doesn’t sufficiently address the deficit situation in which the home finds itself at this time.

“I would hate to be emphatic about it (selling Sunnyview) and say ‘Absolutely,’ ” Lokhaiser said, noting that he supports the county keeping Sunnyview, if possible.

But as with Kennedy and Pinkerton, it’s important for Lokhaiser to familiarize himself with the good and bad experiences of other counties that no longer are in the nursing home business, or which have brought in outside contractors to operate their homes.

Under any arrangement eventually embraced by this county, it is important that Sunnyview meet or exceed the state’s operational stand-ards. The home never must be allowed to evolve into deficiencies that threaten its existence.

For the county commissioners now, the best advice is to explore all options and issues before it’s time to vote on whatever course of action ultimately is deemed best for the facility and those who pay for it.