Cambridge's economy may take a devastating blow, as Governor Ted Strickland plans to close the doors to one of their largest employers.
In effort to minimize the state budget-which is expected to reach a shortfall of up to $2 billion by June of next year-Governor Strickland plans to close the Cambridge Campus of Appalachian Behavioral Health Care as well as a campus in Dayton.
"Our plan, our financing plan right now, rest on closing these two hospitals in order to gain efficiencies at other hospitals," says Director of Ohio Department of Mental Health Sandra Stephenson.
By closing the two hospitals, the state plans to save around $20 million for the next two years, but some say Guernsey County will lose 5 times what the state saves.
"We don't need anything cut in Southeastern Ohio. We need things brought in. It would be easy to cut things in the Columbus area, Cleveland area, Cincinnati because those big metropolitan areas-they can absorb those 130 jobs, easily," says Cambridge City Council President Fred Shimp.
Community members, employees of the healthcare center, state and local officials all gathered to voice their concerns to representatives from the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Most were concerned over the ripple effect to the economy after losing 130 jobs, but those in need of the service were also a major concern.
"They're having mental health problems to start with. This is going to cause deeper depressions, as the one lady said, things are going to get worse rather than better," says Shimp.
Representatives from the ODMH will take the concerns of the community back to Governor Strickland. The health care facility is scheduled to close by July 1st.
In effort to minimize the state budget-which is expected to reach a shortfall of up to $2 billion by June of next year-Governor Strickland plans to close the Cambridge Campus of Appalachian Behavioral Health Care as well as a campus in Dayton.
"Our plan, our financing plan right now, rest on closing these two hospitals in order to gain efficiencies at other hospitals," says Director of Ohio Department of Mental Health Sandra Stephenson.
By closing the two hospitals, the state plans to save around $20 million for the next two years, but some say Guernsey County will lose 5 times what the state saves.
"We don't need anything cut in Southeastern Ohio. We need things brought in. It would be easy to cut things in the Columbus area, Cleveland area, Cincinnati because those big metropolitan areas-they can absorb those 130 jobs, easily," says Cambridge City Council President Fred Shimp.
Community members, employees of the healthcare center, state and local officials all gathered to voice their concerns to representatives from the Ohio Department of Mental Health. Most were concerned over the ripple effect to the economy after losing 130 jobs, but those in need of the service were also a major concern.
"They're having mental health problems to start with. This is going to cause deeper depressions, as the one lady said, things are going to get worse rather than better," says Shimp.
Representatives from the ODMH will take the concerns of the community back to Governor Strickland. The health care facility is scheduled to close by July 1st.
