Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy insists he has not changed his mind about considering closing a county-run nursing facility in Yaphank, despite omitting the issue at a recent committee meeting.

On Tuesday morning, union leaders celebrated what they thought was a victory in the battle to keep the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility open.

?We got good news that the debt reduction plan for Suffolk County doesn't include the sale of the nursing home as we had originally thought?,? said Cheryl Felice, president of the Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees, referring to the committee meeting.

However, Levy told News 12 Long Island he is still considering all options to close next year?s projected budget gap. Those options include shutting down the facility or selling it to a private company.

?All of the individuals within the home can be cared for at no cost to the property taxpayer,? Levy said. ?Why should I continue to tax the residents of Suffolk County $12 million a year??

Levy said his office is conducting a study of options for the nursing home, which is expected to take a few months.