From “Pennsylvania’s Counties Unveil Priorities For 2010”, a January 13 press release from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania:
HARRISBURG, PA—January 13–County leaders from throughout Pennsylvania today unveiled their list of ten key legislative priorities for 2010 aimed at assuring adequate funding for human services, tax equity for local residents, government efficiency and seeking cost savings while working to assure that funding decisions at the state level do not adversely impact local taxpayers.
Joe Giles, Erie County council member and president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) said, “Counties’ legislative priorities for 2010 reflect some of our long-standing policy positions, such as a broadening of the tax base available to counties to fund local services and assuring adequate state funding for core government services. The CCAP legislative priorities also reflect the needs arising from a difficult fiscal year in 2009 when state funding in many program areas was cut, and counties suffered greatly due to the 101 day budget impasse in Harrisburg.”
“Our top priority is funding for human services. We will call upon the General Assembly to make sure the FY 2010-2011 budget is delivered on time but also honors the state’s obligation to maintain adequate levels of funding for core government services that will protect the health of our communities. These are both important targets that lawmakers must hit this year. Counties, and the residents they serve, cannot afford another budget stalemate, which resulted in major cash flow issues, service reductions or shutdowns and loss of local reserve funds. The state budget must be completed timely and responsibly and must preserve funding for human services.”….
As the nation’s current recession was declared official, Pennsylvania counties were already facing budget difficulties. Commonwealth budget cuts passed along to counties during FY 2009-2010 have come at the same time that residents’ requests for assistance to help meet their most basic safety needs are on a dramatic upswing. Just as in previous recessions, tough economic times, low wages and rising costs of living have led to an increase in the requests for help in meeting even basic safety needs such as rent, shelter, utilities, food, and prescriptions. Counties are in the forefront of providing necessary services, and have had to continually increase their fiscal share for these services as state and federal funds have not kept pace with state and federal mandates, the increasing need for services, and the actual costs of providing services. Counties continue to act as a safety net for those individuals most in need.
To read the release in its entirety, click here.
