RIDGWAY — Budget cuts proposed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives House Bill 218 could have a devastating effect on the community.
During Tuesday’s Elk County Commissioners meeting, human service agencies, judicial officials, the commissioners and state officials discussed what would happen if the cuts proposed in HB 218 did occur as presented.
Rep. Matt Gabler, R-DuBois, reassured the agency representatives that the budget process has begun very early this year to give agencies more time to state their case and to give the legislature more time to develop a workable budget. The state is facing a deficit and revenue is down, which makes it necessary to find places in the budget to cut, he said.
Directors of alcohol and drug abuse services, CAPSEA, children and youth, the probation department, the Elk and Cameron County judge and the Elk County sheriff explained that all of these programs are intertwined when it comes to helping offenders, victims and the community at large. By providing services to offenders and victims the human service organizations are helping to limit or keep people out of the jail system by addressing problems before they intensify.
Billie Joy Weyant, executive director of CAPSEA, said the cuts would threaten its ability to run a shelter for abused women and children, its transportation money that allows advocates to meet with Cameron County victims and its support services for victims of juvenile offenders.
Nancy Baker, director of children and youth services, said although her agency isn’t facing a cut, the number of services her agency would have to address would increase if other agencies such as drug and alcohol abuse services and CAPSEA lose funding.
Judge Richard Mason said these agencies deal with the most vulnerable segment of the population. If these agencies don’t have the money to provide services it enhances the risk to the community because the county will see an increase in delinquent behavior, violence and substance abuse.
Fewer services to address issues also means more people will end up being sent to secure facilities and cost the county more money. Each person placed in a state secure facilities cost the county about $500 a day, private facilities the county contracts with cost the county $200 a day.
In the end, it’s about trying to do what’s best for individuals, the county agencies have been very successful at providing services so placement is not necessary, Andrew Hathorn, chief probation officer in Elk County, said.
In other county news:
A grant from the PCCD was approved for the Ridgway Borough Police Department. The $11,547 will be used to create an interview area and improve the office areas.
The commissioners approved an agreement with Govolution LLC. It will enable the residents to pay their tax bills on-line.
Christine Kushner was appointed to the Cameron/Elk Behavioral and Development Programs Advisory Committee.
Tom Kronenwetter’s resignation from the Elk County Tax Appeal Board was approved.
Gelindo “Boots” Bonfardine was appointed to the tax appeal board.
Four applications for Liquid Fuel money were approved. They will go to the Ridgway Borough for a 2016 paving project, Millstone Township for a snowplow truck, the Johnsonburg Borough for a backhoe and Fox Township for paving.
Several residents of James City voiced their fears and concerns about a proposed injection well in Highland Township.
