Expenses on the rise are why the chief executive of Clinton's Warner Hospital calls its latest budget a tough one.

Paul Skowron is the CEO of Warner Hospital and Health Services and indicates expenses to address staffing shortages made things tougher on the hospital's budget than usual. He points out they sought to make sure their wages were competitive with the rest of the area to keep their staff from leaving. 

Conservative budgeting is the key to the financial success of the hospital over the years and Skowron indicates they are having to work very hard on that this year. An area of focus for them in this budget is making things more convenient for the patient and some of it stems from lessons learned from COVID.

Skowron explains part of making things more convenient for the patient will be improving the flow of foot traffic to the specialty clinic by adding an entrance that is wheelchair accessible.

A new roof is planned for the facility this year. Skowron explains because the hospital is owned by the City, they have to present the budget to the Clinton City Council and it will have to approve it later this month.