US EditionPA Budget Impasse Hurting Safety Net Programs
Counties like Cambria and Somerset face rising debt and service cuts due to $1.4 billion in delayed state education funding, while programs lay off staff amid ongoing budget deadlock.
- Last month, Cambria County's Community Action Partnership halted rental and utility assistance and daycare, while officials said some bills will go unpaid but reimbursed after a final state budget.
- The budget, due June 30, stalled after Pennsylvania state lawmakers rejected House Democrats' $50.6 billion and Senate Republicans' $47.6 billion plans amid transit funding disputes.
- According to Pennsylvania's budget secretary, Chester County missed $10 million in funding for human services programs in July and August, while county child welfare programs missed $390 million, straining services.
- Nonprofits report cutting staff and services, with small nonprofit programs and rape crisis centers laying off staff while Somerset County commissioners said they may cover payroll if the budget impasse continues.
- With only 15 session days remaining, state lawmakers in Harrisburg return this month, and Gov. Josh Shapiro signaled willingness to negotiate on transit funds on Aug. 25.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Meadville Tribune
Pa. Senate to resume session as budget impasse lingers
HARRISBURG — State lawmakers return to the Capitol this month to resume voting sessions, albeit briefly, as Pennsylvania’s budget stalemate wears into the third month of the fiscal year.
Ongoing state budget standoff has counties concerned; officials warn of unpaid bills, payroll pressures
County officials statewide worry they will soon begin to feel the effects of the state's lingering budget impasse, saying the stalemate threatens to start draining county coffers.
PA budget impasse hurting safety net programs
HARRISBURG — More than two months in, the effects of Pennsylvania’s budget impasse are compounding. Many of the programs hurting most are smaller ones that tend to get little attention. Across the commonwealth, small nonprofit programs like rape crisis centers are laying off staff and scaling back services, or preparing to do so. Wealthy counties are dipping into reserves to fund child services and programs for people with intellectual disabilit…
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