EMPORIUM — Cameron County commissioners continue to watch efforts by the state to pass a budget prior to the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1.
The House has passed its version of the budget, known as House Bill 218, which is in Senate hands now, awaiting changes and eventual approval. Lawmakers are optimistic that it can be passed on June 30, although taxes and revenue streams will not be settled at that time.
Ten days are available following the fiscal-year-end for that to be presented, and the whole package to be signed by Gov. Tom Wolf.
The $32 billion budget still has a $1 billion gap. Revenue to plug that hole could come from legalizing more gambling, or borrowing against money to be received through the multi-state tobacco settlement.
Worrying to county commissioners across Pennsylvania are the deep cuts to mandated county programs, such as probation, county assistance offices, local health departments and homelessness assistance. Commissioner Phil Jones lamented the fact that Republicans wish to pass the budget without tax increases, “but the increases will come when counties have to raise their tax rates to fund these programs.”
Commissioner Lori Reed said, “It doesn’t look like they’re going to make the deadline, at this point, and it still looks like they’re going to cut probation and youth probation and services.”
Commissioner Jim Thomas said, in the past, the county had to borrow money to keep services going.
“What if we go to the banks and they say no? The financial community is not as solid as it was the last time,” he said.
Commissioners also questioned Development Director Cliff Clark, who administers the county’s Community Development Block Grant program, about its future in regard to federal funding.
“Nobody seems to think it’s going to (be cut),” Clark said. “Across the country, (CDBG) has come to be relied on for addressing community issues.”
Clark held the first public hearing for the 2017 CDBG program prior to the commissioners meeting. The county expects to receive approximately $204,000, but it is unclear when the funds will be awarded. Clark stated that any changes that have been proposed thus far would not take effect till 2018, and would only affect disbursements from 2019 onward.
The HOME Program was also discussed. Cameron County is using a $400,000 HOME grant in which two homes have been completed and seven are underway. Nine to ten homes will be completed through this grant. In previous years, more homes were completed, but the HOME program is now subject to prevailing wage requirements.
The next meeting of the commissioners is 10 a.m. July 20 at the courthouse. The meeting schedule was rearranged for July due to the Independence Day holiday.
