Residents and workers at the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank say they don?t want the county-run facility closed as part of the county executive?s budget plan.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced last week that he wants to take several measures to help close the county?s budget gap. One of those measures includes the sale of the nursing home. He says that step, in conjunction with others, will save taxpayers $12 million a year.

The Yaphank facility could ultimately be closed down or sold to a private company as part of the plan. The more than 200 nursing home residents say because it is run by the county, living at John J. Foley remains affordable. Many say they could not afford to live there if it were privatized or if they had to move to a private facility.

Kathleen Malloy, secretary of the union that represents the 400 workers at the facility, also has a mother-in-law that lives there. She says the workers are afraid they?ll be laid off if Levy?s plan goes into effect.

Levy says the workers could be transferred to other county jobs. He says residents will be alright because of Medicaid, Medicare and state oversight. Levy's proposal also needs legislative approval. Any decision to close the facility or find a private buyer could take months.