EBENSBURG — Cambria County commissioners are joining other county officials across Pennsylvania urging the state House to reject a Senate-approved budget that makes deep cuts – passing along costs of state-mandated services to the counties.
Unless there are changes, the commissioners warned that they would have to look at options from cutting services to increasing property taxes.
In early May, the Senate – voting along party lines in the Republican-controlled chamber – passed a $27.3 million spending plan for 2009-10 that would reduce spending by $1 billion from this year’s approved budget.
It also is less than Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed $29 billion budget plan unveiled in February.
President Commissioner P.J. Stevens and Commissioner Milan Gjurich, both Democrats, charged that senators voting for the budget legislation “wanted to look fiscally responsible” while, in reality, shifting the burden to the local taxpayers.
Gjurich said, “It’s only a facade. It makes the state look good while passing it (costs) on.”
Stevens said, “If the state requires us to provide services, they should pay for it.”
Commissioner Bill Harris, the lone Republican on the board, voiced no objections to the resolution that urges the General Assembly “to adopt a responsible budget that maintains funding for core government services,” but did not take part in the discussion.
The Senate-approved budget includes no increase for nursing home reimbursements, cuts mental-health funding, decreases child welfare reimbursement and curbs allocations for juvenile detention, it was noted.
Last week, Somerset County Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes aired similar concerns about the impact the cuts will have on counties in testimony before the House Appropriations Committee.
“When costs are passed down to counties, property taxpayers – our local revenue base – suffer the consequences,” she said.
Stevens and Gjurich, as they have previously, called for statewide tax reform to ease the burden on local property taxpayers.
The state budget – when it’s passed – comes in the middle of the county’s fiscal year, months after the county adopted its budget, Stevens said.
Discussions already are on-going with department heads on how to deal “with worst-case scenarios. We have to be prepared. We can’t allow them to dig a hole we can’t get out of,” he said.
Human service programs – largely funded by the state – provide essential services to the people, he said.
Stevens said that the options are few – “layoffs, or cuts in services, or raising taxes, and in this day and age, that is unacceptable.”
Local News
Commissioners urge rejection of budget
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
