Pike feels state budget pinch

DAVID HULSE
Posted 8/21/12

MILFORD, PA — The money is running out.

Pike County Commissioners joined neighboring Wayne in voicing concerns about the upcoming loss of county human services, failing the state’s completion …

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Pike feels state budget pinch

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MILFORD, PA — The money is running out.

Pike County Commissioners joined neighboring Wayne in voicing concerns about the upcoming loss of county human services, failing the state’s completion of a new budget. The budget for the fiscally challenged Commonwealth is currently five months overdue and county services for the aging and for children and youth are endangered by cutbacks in those programs.

Commissioner Karl Wagner summed up the problem. “The legislature doesn’t want to increase taxes and the governor says they’re needed to fund the budget.”

“We have to develop a budget, and we’re running up deficits while projecting the future, without knowing if we’ll be reimbursed,” Commissioners’ Chair Rich Caridi said.

Robin LaDolce of the Pike Area Agency on Aging said that apart from county funding, only about 25% of the usual funding is still flowing. “I have about 30 people waiting for services, that I can’t afford to start,” she said.

Jeff Hartzell, of the multi-county human services provider Carbon-Monroe-Pike (CMP) Developmental Services, confirmed that federal pass-through funding is still coming in, but smaller service providers are in trouble. “Strong providers can incur debt and await reimbursement. The smaller ones are at risk of stopping services next month. The young people are most at risk,” he said.

CMP Developmental Services was forced to stop payment to behavioral health, developmental services and early intervention providers in July.

“…Kids three years-old—what voice do they have? Nothing….” Commissioner Matt Osterberg said.

Pike County has a $1.6 million capital reserve account. “It’s saving us… Many counties don’t have this. Thank God we have it,” said Wagner.

Osterberg said the county was issuing its “Call-to-Action” statement to bring attention to this before it’s a true crisis.

The “Call” concluded by appealing to all of Harrisburg’s elected officials to resolve this budget impasse and resume services to the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens, those having “critical need for mental health and developmental services.”

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