Huntsman Wants Veterans Nursing Home Now

None by Eric Ray

(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman wants to build a veterans nursing home in Ogden now, at the cost of $20 million, in the hopes that the federal government will eventually reimburse two-thirds of that cost.

Utah Director of Veteran Affairs Terry Schow says he is still receiving assurances from federal officials that the state will be reimbursed. He says it would be more cost-effective to build the nursing home now because of rising construction costs. He says estimates put those costs at $1.2 million per year.

Should lawmakers decide to build the nursing home now, Schow says the state will receive $3 million per year from the federal government for veterans care as soon as the doors open.

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