Enacted State Budget Shortchanges Counties

The County Comm'rs' Ass'n of Pa, known as CCAP, has issued this statement in response to the enacted state budget for 2026-27

Counties recognize that this year’s budget required difficult decisions, and we appreciate the efforts of those legislators who continue to champion critical county services. While the budget includes important investments such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, crisis stabilization centers, and transportation infrastructure—it fails to address the counties’ two most pressing priorities: increased county mental health funding and sustainable 911 funding.

“Counties are on the front lines of delivering state-mandated services” said Dr. Kyle Kopko, CCAP Executive Director. “We administer elections, operate 911 systems, and provide a wide range of human services. Unfortunately, the Commonwealth continues to expect counties to do more without providing the funding necessary to keep pace with rising costs. This places the financial burden on property taxpayers across Pennsylvania.”

Counties also recognize the importance of responsible spending and continue to face the challenge of doing more with less every year. However, by not adequately investing in the services counties are mandated to provide on behalf of the Commonwealth, this budget will likely force county leaders to make increasingly difficult decisions in the months ahead.

The absence of additional mental health base funding for a second consecutive year is concerning. While counties appreciate the investments made by Governor Shapiro and the General Assembly to date, the need for additional base funding has only intensified. Demand for services continues to rise, provider costs are increasing, and counties are being called upon to expand crisis response and behavioral health services—all without the sustainable, long-term investment necessary to support the community-based system. This gap places continued strain on counties and the residents who rely on these critical services.

The same challenge is true for 911 services. Counties remain focused on investing responsibly in Next Generation 911 technology, cybersecurity, staffing, and system upgrades, but the current surcharge has not kept pace with the true cost of operating these systems. “Every Pennsylvanian expects 911 to work when they call, and counties continue to grapple with the recruitment and retention of this specialized workforce and appropriate technology to meet the needs of our residents” Kopko said.

The budget’s late passage continues a troubling pattern that complicates planning for counties and all levels of government. “These fiscal challenges are not the Commonwealth’s alone—they are shared by counties, local government entities, and the 13 million Pennsylvanians we serve,” said Kopko. “We must work together to ensure that Pennsylvania does not continue to miss budget deadlines and jeopardize critical services for all Pennsylvanians.”

NorCo Sends Furlough Notices to Human Services Caseworkers, Suspends Payments to Human Services Vendors as Result of State Budget Impasse

Northampton County has issued a 30-day notice to the union representing Human Services workers, advising them that furloughs may be necessary if the state budget impasse continues. Moreover, as of Monday, payments to Human Services vendors have been suspended. The county has also postponed its annual luncheon for centenarians. 

Executive Lamont McClure stressed layoffs are an "option of last resort." 

NorCo's Human Services Department investigates allegations of abuse and neglect aimed at our children and elderly, the most vulnerable members of society. It provides a wide variety of services to individuals who have mental health issues. It provides services, usually through vendors, aimed at the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. It also helps veterans and their dependents. 

The state funds between 80-90% of the salaries of these workers. But since the state budget impasse on June 30, the county has been paying these salaries on its own. McClure estimates that the county has spent $8-12 million so far and estimates that figure might be as high as $20 million by the end of October.  

McClure is reluctant to use the county's rainy-day fund, called a stabilization fund, to pay these wages. He is also reluctant to seek a short-term loan to cover these expenses because that loan would need to be repaid with interest that the state is unwilling to reimburse.  

“Republicans in the State Senate have failed the people of Pennsylvania by refusing to pass a budget,” said McClure. "For three months, their dysfunction has left counties like Northampton footing the bill, costing us millions of dollars just to keep essential services going. ... This is unacceptable. They must do their job, pass a budget, and stop punishing taxpayers and seniors alike."

Pa. Budget Impasse Continues

Pennsylvania's Constitution requires that a state budget be in place by June 30, but the General Assembly usually ignores this mandate. According to PoliticsPa, only four of the past dozen budgets have been adopted on time. There's no rush because legislators and state employees can still look forward to their paychecks. The spice still flows. But starting soon, the spigots will be turned off at school districts, local governments and with nonprofits. 

Governor Josh Shapiro has trimmed his budget spending from $51.4 to $49.9 billion, but that was a week ago. At this point, the failure is irresponsible. How hard is it to have a budget that funds agencies investigating child abuse or school districts that educate our most valuable resource?   

NorCo Council will tonight consider yet another nonbinding resolution calling on the state to do what it should have done by the end of June. 

Mattei Asks Whether Emrick Will Pay For Unbalanced Budget

Governor Tom Wolf, who really seems to be auditioning for the role of Godot, is allowing the state legislature's spending plan to become law. Never mind that legislators have no idea how they plan to pay for it, and that credit ratings agencies are already warning that a downgrade is increasingly likely.

According to Dave Mattei, who is running against incumbent Joe Emrick, "The General Assembly has a constitutional responsibility to pass a sustainable revenue package to pay for what they have spent."

He points out that Republican refusal to raise the necessary revenue could put millions of children, seniors, and vulnerable citizens at risk of losing the funding they need. Funding for drug and alcohol centers, the opioid epidemic, services that provide assistance for disabilities, domestic violence programs, basic and higher education programs, and prescription drug assistance for seniors, are now at risk. . Our Commonwealth could again face teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, and skyrocketing property taxes.

"Our Commonwealth cannot afford another budget crisis, and it is deplorable that Rep. Emrick and the Republicans in Harrisburg cannot fulfill their basic Constitutional duties," said Mattei in a statement released late last night.

Maybe Emrick has a money tree. In his back yard.

Dan McNeill Needs Your Help With "No Budget No Pay" Bill

One of the most disgusting things about the state budget impasse is that legislators are still being paid. Dan McNeill has gained some bi-partisan support for his "No Budget No Pay" bill, but as of Wednesday, not a single member of the Lehigh Valley delegation had signed on. In order to persuade his colleagues, McNeill is asking you to sign his petition to suspend pay until there is a complete budget. You can do so here.

As of Wednesday, he had support from Madeleine Dean (D) – 153 (Montgomery County), Stephen Kinsey (D) – 201 (Philadelphia County), Kristin Hill (R) – 93 (York County), Anthony DeLuca (D) – 32 (Allegheny County), William Kortz (D) – 38 (Allegheny County), and Dan Miller (D) – 42 (Allegheny County).

Four LV Legislators Will Skip Pa Society Gala

Yesterday, I pointed to the hypocrisy of state legislators and the Governor attending an upper crust gala with the Pa Society at Manhattan's Waldorf Astoria when they have demonstrated a complete inability to adopt a state budget. I contacted all members of the Lehigh Valley delegation. I've heard nothing from the senators, although I'm unsure my email to Senator Maria Scavello went through. I did hear from several state representatives, all of whom told me they will pass on the high society, especially if there's no budget.

State Rep. Steve Samuelson: "I will not attend. In fact, I have never attended the Pennsylvania Society.

1.       - We have work to do in Harrisburg.

2.       - Also, why isn’t this event held in Pennsylvania each year?

3.       - And since February 2015, the Waldorf Astoria – the site of the “Pennsylvania Society” – the has been owned by a Chinese insurance company ...

So, why would anyone who seeks to promote Pennsylvania’s economic prospects travel to New York City and boost the Chinese economy?

State Rep. Pete Schweyer: "Very simply, I will not be attending the PA Society Gala. I cannot in good conscience attend such an event in the absence of a budget. Of course I think we should be here Monday, November 30th as well; alas we aren’t scheduled for session at this point."

State Rep. Bob Freeman: "I will not be attending the PA Society Gala."

State Rep. Justin Simmons: "I will not be attending PA Society if the budget is not passed by then (highly doubt it will be)."

Several state reps have failed to respond, but my emails were bouncing, so don't hold a failure to rely against them.

While State Burns, Wolf and State Elite to Fiddle at Waldorf

Though a budget breakthrough is supposedly on the way, you never know what's going to happen in the land of midnight payraises. According to the Philadelphia Tribune, rare pangs of conscience (or more likely, election fears) are troubling some state legislators over a regressive sales tax increase that will have a disproportionate and devastating impact on the working poor. But it's not bothering them enough to call off the annual Pa Society shindig at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.

State reps like Mike Schlossberg will dig into his campaign treasury to reserve his hotel room and rent a tux, if he hasn't bought one already. He, Fed Ed and other members of the LV delegation will make their annual pilgrimage to the Big Apple to dine on oysters and Delmonicos with the developers and business interests who really run this state.

According to the nonpartisan Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, sales taxes are regressive because they "inevitably take a larger share of income from low- and middle-income families than from rich families because sales taxes are levied at a flat rate and spending as a share of income falls as income rises." Putting it on Robin Hood terms, they steal from the poor and give to the rich.

Candidate Tom Wolf criss crossed the state in a Jeep Wrangler, trying to pretend he was one of us. But Governor Tom Wolf is tuning up his violin and has already sold out the very people - the working poor - who put him where he is.

In the meantime, out-of state frackers are laughing all the way to the bank.

Updated 11:30 AM - Bumstead reports some lawmakers will skip event if budget deal not reached. - You can read his report here.

Breakthrough in State Budget Logjam?

According to the Inky and one of my own sources, a compromise has been reached to break the state budget logjam in the Land of Midnight Payraises. Here's what I hear

1.) Republicans have agreed to a $700 million education increase toward education over two years.

2.) Wolf has agreed to Republican pension bill which will save $10 billion over 30 years.

3.) Wolf has agreed to Republican liquor bill.

4.) This education increase will be paid for by slot machine and gambling revenue (being shifted from property tax relief).

5.) Sales tax will rise from 6%-7.25% to provide $2 billion in property tax relief for everyone. Not expanded to new items. Also a referendum will be included that will empower voters to make the decision on any future property tax increases.

7.) Cigarette tax increases 50 cents a pack, also to roll your own tobacco.

8.) Slot machines in airports and bars, Internet gambling for tax revenue.

9.) This is a 2 year budget.

McNeill Withdraws Pay Suspension Proposal

On June 17, State Rep. Dan McNeill proposed a suspension of all pay and per diems to members of both the state legislature and Wolf cabinet if they were unable to cobble together a budget by June 30. He claimed it "is our basic fiduciary duty and a core function of state government to carry out this obligation." Well, there's still no budget, and legislators like Mike Schlossberg took their Summer vacations despite the impasse.

McNeill received exactly Dan received ONE co-sponsor response. Republican Duane Milne, from Chester County. Not ONE Democrat would support the bill, but he did received a ton of negative comments from his colleagues in the land of midnight payraises.

As a result, McNeill has withdrawn his bill.

McNeill to Host Budget Rally on Wednesday

WHITEHALL: - State Rep. Daniel McNeill, D-Lehigh, will host a rally on Wednesday to call for a responsible state budget and to address a few key issues that must be part of any proposed budget.  His event will be held 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the Westgate Mall, 2285 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem.

McNeill will be joined by teachers, labor members, local officials and seniors who are concerned about the lack of progress in passing a responsible budget.

He beliefves the core issues facing Pennsylvania are a structural budget deficit; a drastically underfunded school system; and rising property taxes for seniors and middle-class families.

While there, he'll also be collecting school supplies which will be handed out to students in need in his district.

As State Shutdown Looms, State GOP Takes on Strippers

State Republicans who have advanced a $30 billion spending package have to know that Governor Tom Wolf has little choice but to veto it, if only because it increases the state deficit to $3.1 billion.As a government shutdown looms, you'll be happy to know that 30 Republicans led by Matthew Baker are leading the charge to do something about those disgusting strippers who visit what are disingenuously called gentleman's clubs. Strippers would be required to pay a $50 annual fee, answer all kinds of personal questions, including their favorite color,. They would also be forced to carry a modern-day equivalent of the Scarlet S, a special kind of photo ID (presumably clothed, but you never know) that they would have to produce on demand by any state agent. .

According to Baker, may of the women at these clubs are there against their will.

You'll be happy to know that this measure already has the support of the following House Republicans: Julie "Dixie Cups" Harhart; Ryan "the Rod" MacKenzie; and Joe "Long Dong Ranger" Emrick.Nice to see these limited government advocates regulating morality while the state goes down the hopper.

Will Wolf Raise Income, Sales Tax?

According to Brad Bumstead, that's the plan for tomorrow, when Governor Tom Wolf releases next year's budget. He reportedly will increase the state's personal income tax by 20 percent, as well as a 10% hike in state sales tax. This is supposed to fund a reduction in property taxes, kinda' like the casinos. I notice taxes never really go down.

This is all speculation right now, although the Inky hints it will be "big, bold and controversial."

NorCo Dems Assail GOP Cuts to Education

July 2, 2014 – Today, Lehigh Valley Democratic Candidates for State House decried the Republican budget and its drastic slashing of education funding.

State Representative Mike Schlossberg (D-Allentown) said that the budget doesn’t solve problems, but, “resorts to one-time funding gimmicks.” He also accused Governor Corbett and his Republican-controlled legislature of cutting $1 billion in education funding while letting oil and gas companies get a free ride.

State Representative Dan McNeill said that he is, “standing strong with the teachers of Pennsylvania to ensure that our next generation has fully-funded schools and that our hard working teachers get the pensions that they have earned.”

Michael Beyer, running against Justin Simmons for the State House seat that includes parts of southern Lehigh and Northampton Counties, said, “With each budget providing fewer dollars going to actual classrooms, even some of the most well-off districts like Saucon Valley and Southern Lehigh, are forced to raise local property taxes and cut staff and programs.”

Terri Powell, running against Julie Harhart in Northampton and parts of Lehigh County, said, “This budget looks to balance the budget on the backs of teachers and students while still letting the oil and gas companies, some of the most profitable in the Commonwealth, drill in our backyards basically for free.”

(Blogger's Note: Independent Michael Molovinsky is also running in that race).

Leslie Altieri (D-Bethlehem Township), running against Marcia Hahn in Northampton County, said that, “The reality is that Corbett and Hahn have left public education spending at its lowest level in years and have been overly optimistic on tax revenues and left us facing a $1.4 billion hole in the budget

A chart with data compiled from the PSEA and recent school board budgets shows the real impacts of the last budgets proposed and passed by Corbett and his clones in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Effect of State Funding Changes on Lehigh and Northampton School Real Estate Taxes
School District	2013/2014 Tax Increase	2014/2015 Tax Increase	Change in Funding from PA since 2010/2011*
Catasauqua SD	1.30%	2.60%	-$280,678.00
Northern Lehigh SD	2.30%	2.80%	-$720,082.00
Northampton SD	2.47%	2.47%	-$1,224,003.00
Whitehall-Coplay SD	3.27%	3.30%	-$302,029.00
Parkland SD	3.67%	1.88%	-$200,149.00
Allentown SD	8.20%	5.85%	$7,632,500.00
Bethlehem SD	2.70%	4.90%	-$6,865,171.00

Matt Munsey, Chairman of the Northampton County Democrats, said, “This chart, these cuts, show precisely why we need to re-elect Mike Schlossberg, Steve Samuelson, Dan McNeill and Bob Freeman. It also shows with drastic clarity why we need to elect Tom Wolf as Governor, Michael Beyer, Terri Powell, Leslie Altieri and Pete Schweyer to the State House. We can’t keep letting oil and gas companies get a free pass while hiking taxes on our oldest, most vulnerable citizens and giving short shrift to the next generation.”

McNeill: State Budget Needs More Education $

FROM McNEILL,  June 30 – State Rep. Daniel McNeill D-Lehigh/Northampton, said the fiscal year 2013-14 budget that passed the House of Representatives today fails to restore adequate funding to education, hurting Pennsylvania students and their families and leaving homeowners with higher property taxes.

“This budget severely underfunds school districts in the Lehigh Valley, further harming our children and their families,” McNeill said. “This lack of funding has already forced schools to lay off teachers and staff and increase property taxes. For example, Allentown School District recently announced it will cut 151 jobs, while calling for a 8.2 percent property tax increase.”

Over the last two Corbett budgets, school districts have seen an over $1 billion cut in state funding for education, and McNeill said that this year’s state budget replaces a small amount of that funding [$123 million] but not enough to have an impact.

“Obviously, education funding is not a priority of the Corbett administration, and unfortunately, the burden of educating our children has fallen to local taxpayers, who will continue to see increased property taxes,” McNeill said.

McNeill urged House Republicans and Corbett to include an expansion of Medicaid under the federal Affordable Care Act in the final budget agreement to provide health insurance to at least 500,000 Pennsylvanians.

“Besides making health care accessible to half a million Pennsylvanians, expanding Medicaid would provide a $3 billion boost to the state economy and at least 35,000 jobs statewide,” McNeill said.

McNeill: Corbett Budget Wrong For Working Families

State Rep. Bob Freeman is "concerned" about Governor Corbett's proposed budget, but State Rep. Dan McNeill, known for his blunt style, is a little more direct.

McNeill: Corbett Budget Wrong For Working Families by

Corbett Budget Bodes Well For Centralized HS, Gracedale

When NorCo Council tabled a proposed lease for a centralized human services building one of the reasons offered was Governor Corbett's proposed budget for next year. Wait until that is released, went the argument, and see if Corbett continues to cut back on human services, as he has done for two years straight. Yesterday, Corbett released his new budget, and it includes increases in human services. It even includes a 2% increase in reimbursements to nursing homes, which bodes well for Gracedale.

State Rep. Bob Freeman still takes Corbett to task because he wants to sell state liquor stores to fund education, using non-recurring revenue for a recurring expense. " That is a one-time infusion of funding, and once it is gone, it is gone," says Freeman. That's the problem with selling the hen; you no longer get the eggs."

Freeman also slams theplan to privatize the state's lottery, which he calls the most successful in the nation.

"We don't need to divert funding from those programs to hire a private management firm to tell us how to run the operation," claims Freeman. "Instead of wasting millions of dollars on consultants, we should make sure that money goes directly to benefit our senior citizens."

Here are some highlights:

• Expanding Services for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities– $20 million in additional funds to reduce a waiting list for home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual disabilities, providing services for 1,080 adults graduating from Special Education programs and adults in at-risk situations where their families may not be able to continue caring for them, and 118 adults who receive autism services;
• Expanded Services for Older Pennsylvanians – $21 million from increased lottery funds, due to the Lottery Private Management Agreement, to account for growth in home and community-based services which would allow 1,550 additional older Pennsylvanians to receive services at home;
• Expanding Services for Individuals with Physical Disabilities – $20 million in additional funds to provide home and community-based long-term living services for 1,680 individuals;
• Child Care Assistance – $7.1 million in additional funds to reduce the waiting list, allowing 1,400 additional children of low-income families to receive subsidized child care services;
• Improving the Quality of Child Care Programs – $3 million in additional funds for the Rising STARS initiative, which creates incentives for early child care and education providers to provide higher quality child care for our most at-risk children, giving them a strong foundation for the future;
• Juvenile Justice Reinvestment – $10 million in reinvestments into research-based prevention and intervention programs for at-risk children through a multi-agency Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Initiative; and
• Continued Investment in Specialized Hospital Services – $20 million to fully fund critical supplemental payments to hospitals, including obstetrical and neonatal facilities, burn centers, trauma centers and critical access facilities.

Commonwealth Court Tosses Budget Attack By Disability Advocates

Judge Anne Covey

Governor Corbett's recently adopted budget has survived a legal challenge filed by a consortium of mental health advocates. A three-judge panel yesterday ruled it lacks the authority to intervene in functions that belong to other branches of government.

As originally proposed, Corbett's 2012-13 budget included a draconian 20% cut in mental health and intellectual disabilities funding. By the time his budget was adopted on June 30, some of this funding was restored.

In her Opinion, Judge Anne E Covey writes that "the budgeting process is beyond the power of the courts to direct. Courts cannot direct the Governor how to speak to the legislature any more than they can direct the legislature what amount to appropriate for specific departments within the DPW."

Judges Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter and Rochelle S. Friedman joined this Opinon.

Local Officials to Corbett: Ditch the Shift

It's not everyday that you can get 52 local officials, from both parties, to agree about anything. But that's exactly what has happened. Governor Corbett's draconian budget is what has done it. At a time when he is proposing reductions in education and human services, he also wants to reduce business taxes. A bipartisan group of 52 local officials have petitioned Corbett to restore funding.

Northampton County Executive John Stoffa, highest ranking local official to join in this Epistle to the Harrisburgers, complains that "[w]e cannot jeopardize opportunities for the next generation of Pennsylvania citizens. We must continue to fund schools and social services for the people of the Commonwealth."

Allegheny Controller Chelsa Wagner adds a complaint I've heard from Northampton County's John Cusick and Lehigh County's Percy Dougherty. "A tax cut in Harrisburg is a tax shift to local communities. Harrisburg has been doing it for years, and it has to stop."

Locally, the letter is signed by the following local officials: Allentown - Julio Guridy and Joe Davis; Bethlehem - Bob Donchez and Eric Evans; Easton - Sandra Vulcano; Easton School District - Pat Volcano; and Northampton County - Executive John Stoffa.

Good News on State Budget Front

April revenues are $40-$50 million above estimates, according to The Citizens Voice. The revenue deficit has shrunk from $700 million to $350 million.

A State Budget Forum For Real People With Real Stories

They're called consumers or clients by human services agencies. But that's not how Lehigh County resident Susan Johnson, a participant of the SHAPE program, would put it. "We're real people with real stories," she insisted. At least 200 people just like her were crammed into Northampton Community College's Fowler Center, ready to tell their stories to state lawmakers considering a proposed budget that will slash an unprecedented 20% ($168 million) from county human services programs.

But only four of the Lehigh Valley's 12-member legislative delegation were there to hear these stories. State Senator Lisa Boscola, along with State Representatives Joe Brennan, Bob Freeman and Steve Samuelson, were the only legislators present.

CACLV's Alan Jennings, who facilitated the discussion, pointed to an empty table in the front of the room, and then began calling out the names of state lawmakers who were absent. State Senators Bob Mensch and Pat Browne did send representatives, as did State Representative Justin Simmons. But the remaining members of the Lehigh Valley delegation - Gary Day, Joe Emrick, Marcia Hahn, Julie Harhart and Jennifer Mann - were absent, and failed to send anyone to act as their eyes and ears.

Gary Day and Joe Emrick never responded to inquiries about their absence. Hahn, Harhart and Mann explained they had scheduling conflicts and were unable to send staffers because of sickness and budget cuts within their own offices. Harhart apologized for her absence, stating she has been meeting "one on one with a lot of individuals regarding Corbett's budget cuts in health and human services, along with cuts in education and early childhood, conservation, and many other budget issues."

They missed an opportunity to hear from real people with real stories.

People like Allentown's Lisa Sportelli, who spoke of her special needs teenaged son Ean and who lacks the resources to provide him all the help that is out there. "The guilt I and so many others in my shoes feel is unexplainable," she remarked. If the services he does receive are suspended or reduced, he will regress, she claimed. "I can't imagine a system that would want to rob a child of a future by denying necessary services now," she argued.

George Clark suffered from depression after losing his fiance to Hurricane Katrina. With help, he was finally getting better and was three weeks into a new job when he was involved in a car accident. He now has $300,000 in medical bills. But for the Conference of Churches and Daybreak, Clark said he'd be on the "wayside."

Eva Cupeles, a one-time business owner who has mental health issues, credits Daybreak with helping her remain functional.

"They make cuts to us, but they're building a hockey stadium," she complained. Cupeles was referring to a planned hockey stadium in Allentown, which will be financed with state and local tax revenue.

After everyone had spoken, State Rep. Joe Brennan observed that county governments will be forced to cut 1/5 of their local programs. "They're gonna' be the bad guys because we have a Governor who refuses to prioritize," Brennan declared. He also predicted that many of the people who could be helped by human service programs will end up in the correctional system.

State Rep. Bob Freeman called Corbett's proposed budget "a failure," imploring people to reach out to absent legislators. Echoing Freeman, State Rep. Steve Samuelson called the budget cuts "devastating to the Lehigh Valley.

But the lawmaker most affected by these real stories from real people was State Senator Lisa Boscola. She claimed she had come "to learn." And she did. "I don't even know if i would have been as strong as some of you," marveled the feisty state senator. She described her own experience as a caregiver to her quadriplegic brother, who has passed away, explaining that sometimes, all he wanted was someone to scratch his head.

Then she broke down in tears.

Ellen Kern, Chief of Staff for Republican Majority Whip Pat Browne, was able to dig out a few tissues for Democrat Boscola, demonstrating that real people - no matter what their political affiliation - will listen to and help each other.