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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

County Furloughs Begin

In Northampton County, Executive Lamont McClure has notified SEIU, the bargaining unit for human services caseworkers, that furloughs are on the horizon as a result of the gridlock over a state budget that has been overdue since July 1.  This decision has been met by widespread criticism from both caseworkers and public officials, including both of the candidates who want to succeed McClure. In his most recent statement on the topic, McClure said he believes the county has enough cash on hand to stave off furloughs until the end of the year, which coincidentally is when his term expires. He said he has inquired about a loan from the State Treasurer but believes it should be interest free. What's going on elsewhere? 

According to Lehigh County Comm'r Jon Irons, his county was seeking a loan.  It is unknown precisely how much interest will need to be paid or the exact sum being borrowed. In Cambria County, Comm'rs have borrowed $8.5 million with a 4.49% interest rate and no pre-payment penalty. About 30 organizations, including as many as seven counties, have applied for a loan from the state treasurer. That loan originally required repayment with 4.5% interest, but the Pa Senate has passed a bill making the loans interest-free. That bill has yet to pass the Pa. House.  

In Westmoreland County, 125 employees have already been furloughed. They include human services caseworkers, workers in row offices and aides to elected officials. That way, vital human services can still be provided. In Armstrong County, human services caseworkers have been furloughed and senior centers that provide hot meals have been shuttered. Carbon County officials think they can hold on to the end of the year. 

In the meantime, the Pa. House has passed yet another budget bill. Though it spends less than Governor Josh Shapiro had hoped, he said he'd sign it if the Senate passes it when they reconvene on October 20.

No hurry. 

41 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lame duck McClure has shown his true colors. He has proved that he could care less for county employees, the poor and defenseless and anyone over 100. He gets to keep his pay and benefits as he makes others suffer. He keeps giving Mackensie more fodder to show the voters just how wrong and unfit McClure is for higher office.

Anonymous said...

The federal government is corrupt the state may be worse.

Anonymous said...

It's all about wasteful SEPTA.

Anonymous said...

Why is this so difficult. Pass what they can agree on and then fight over what’s left afterwards.

Whatever they can agree to then gets passed in a budget amendment.

Anonymous said...

Lamont will not panic. We will get through this. He’s gotten us through harder times.

Anonymous said...

Let's be honest, McClure has done a much better job here in NC than other commissioners and execs have done in many other counties. That's a reality.

Norco Taxpayer voter said...

McCluless has no clue. Retire old man.

Anonymous said...

Relax. There will be movement after Sunday's No Kings March fundraisers in several PA cities. Most unionized employees know this. I suspect we'll have an agreement by Tuesday. I think McClure knows this, as well. The party is getting hammered on the fundraising line. This is a chance to make up the losses.

Anonymous said...

Our legislators are a joke, and our Governor is a phony with his eye on the White House!

Anonymous said...

Way to make me drop my coffee with that leading headline Bernie

Anonymous said...

Its disgusting McClure had no problem paying Steve Barron to sit on a bench outside the courthouse to smoke cigars the last 5 weeks of his employment, and has no problem paying Tara Zirinski her full tax-funded wages to run her campaign for the past 10 months, rather than fulfill her responsibilities as the elected controller. Better yet he found no issues with the county paying for Zirinski to attend irrelevant conferences and endless chamber events, rather than be in the office, you know doing her job. Her campaign signs are posted all over the courthouse parking lots, as if anyone needs a reminder of the disgraceful PAC McClure and Zirinski created.
It’s for the best Charles Dertinger is back on scene, maybe he can take back control of this pathetic administration.

Anonymous said...

Using county employees as a bargaining chip. Very nice… fly your flag Lamont, we know your true colors more than ever

Brian Altenbach said...

How about laying off people in government first as opposed to other services programs. Human services are much more important than government figure heads.

Anonymous said...

The trickle down effect of having a Hitlarian POTUS and a country full of racist, misogynistic, fascist, Replication types. The institutions of Democracy are being systematically destroyed.
This is Germany in the 1930’s.

Anonymous said...

I understand waiting as long as possible for the government to approve the budget and provide counties with the funding they need, but to publicly announce the abandonment of the workers because you don't agree with an interest bearing loan is unconscionable. Keep the human services staff and their providers paid. They are the ones keeping the rest of the county safe! I've heard the comment that admin has a plan in place. If you believe supervisors can do the work of 100 plus caseworkers, you are a fool. This is dangerous. Keep people employed at any cost. There is no dollar amount county admin can put on saving lives. Our prayers are with all of the employees and vulnerable citizens of the county.

Anonymous said...

Um, the only reason anyone knows you got the 30 day notice is because you told them. Thank SEIU for that; who all along knew exactly what the plan was.

Anonymous said...

Ryan can you stop commenting on this blog and get back to work in Washington. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

The people you mention are not paid with state passthrough funds. Put your hate on hold. Barron is gone and Tara is an elected leader that pays for a ton on her own dime. Let's get the facts straight.

Anonymous said...

SEIU put a price on the lives when it was going to strike. A couple cents an hour in fact.

Anonymous said...

I saw that on MSNBC.

Anonymous said...

Charles is back on the scene? Do tell? That would be something resembling good news.

Anonymous said...

We are the late stage Weimar republic because social workers might get laid off? get a grip. Also, get a history book.

Anonymous said...

Furlough staff at the controller's office then maybe Zrinksi would have to report to work and not have time to attend the Martin Guitar Sustainability Summit like she did last Thursday or the Firefighter Luncheon the day before that or time to drop off her ballot at the election voting office the Monday before. County Controller duties do not encompass said events and actions but she's got time to do them.

Anonymous said...

I know many social workers. None of them keep the County "safe". And every decision made by government "costs lives". Like to drive 65 on the interstate? Your travel faster on the blood of accident victims (est. 4000 annually).

Anonymous said...

@12:23
You have not noticed the similarities between Trump and Hitler?
You haven’t noticed the systemic destruction of DEMOCRACY under the current fascist administration?

Anonymous said...

You all know, yes you the posters here, This is the fault of the Republican controlled Senate. Maybe if you spend as much time calling your republican demigods, as you do commenting here, they might actually move and vote yes. But alas, it is easier to blame the evil Democrats

Anonymous said...

you must be a sick puppy, or a man with a crush, either way you are being Very Creepy with your watching her every move.

Anonymous said...

Obviously do not know how the budget works.

Most human services positions as are some other positions in the county are funded via state and/or federal dollars that are promised to the county to help cover the employees payroll and costs.

Majority of the remaining county positions are funded solely on county monies. These positions funded completely by the county are safe because the county budgeted the money for their salaries and benefits last year at budget time.

Since the feds nor the state have come up with a livable budget that means the county is currently funding all positions 100% since no reimbursements are coming from the state or federal levels. So unfortunately yes they’d be furloughed first since their positions aren’t “budgeted” solely on county monies.

Anonymous said...

Every voter that elected her for county controller should be watching

Anonymous said...

Yes especially stop screwing senior citizens and the poor

Anonymous said...

What have you been smoking!?

Anonymous said...

Heaven, forbid we use the money and staff pay from economic development. McClure doesn't need to hand out oversize cardboard checks at this point. Human Services is a necessity; Economic development and others are not.
annon 1:30, you are a sick and uniformed puppy. Partisan politics over ability, right Bernie.

Bernie O'Hare said...

That is not the way it was handled in Westmoreland. Aides to elected officials and employees in other divisions were furloughed so that the county can maintain at least some presence for human services.

Anonymous said...

Whoa is this sarcasm?

Anonymous said...

Tara Z for U.S. Senate!

Anonymous said...

Caseworkers do keep people safe. Who do you think removes children from abusive parents, protects the elderly from victimization, assists those with disabilities who can't take care of themselves, responds to crisis calls when someone is suicidal, who do you think goes out to people's homes when child abuse reports are made, who removes children from a home when a sex offender moves in or when a child is abused, who risks their own lives sometimes to help those in need? These are essential services. There is always a way to keep staff working. The county needs problem solvers. They don't exist in the current admin. Hold a public forum, ask for help from the community, use the resources that are already available - the PEOPLE.

Vladimir Ill-itch said...

9:34 -- If Tzara is attending conferences being paid for by the county (taxpayer), wouldn't council have to approve the requests and wouldn't she need to appeal how the conference is related to her role as controller? If true, those should be public documents of record. As far as those chamber events or the chronic hooky-playing, it's unlikely anyone can do anything if she takes the afternoon off to attend a union sponsored campaign rally for some guy running for state rep or city council in Philadelphia or hang out at the elections office on a Monday taking selfies to post on her campaign social media. But, yes, I agree with your subtle implication that the county is aiding and abetting her campaign. Imagine a Forusse Gump-like voice saying "corrupt is as corrupt does".

Bernie O'Hare said...

The Controller is an independently elected official. If she is attending a conference, and it is actually on the taxpayer dime as opposed to spending her own $, she can do it so long as she stays within her approved budget. Contrary to what some of you seem to think, neither County Council nor the Exec are monarchs. We have independently elected officials who answer to the taxpayer, not to them.

Anonymous said...

No I haven't. And this is a county issue.

Anonymous said...

Democrats rallying call. It’s old. Get a job, Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Obama targeted Trump and Republicans. So, moron, no one hears your poor pathetic rallying cry.

Anonymous said...

Where’s the news about the Sikh society these days? Awfully quiet since lahoud law group took over