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WILKES-BARRE — Asked Wednesday about the possible shutdown now facing Luzerne County, Jeff Sheridan, press secretary for Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, said the governor is doing everything he can to reach a final budget as soon as possible.
But, Sheridan said, the governor can’t do it alone.
“I would hope that Mr. (Harry) Haas would also want the Republican legislators to act,” Sheridan said. “The governor can’t negotiate with himself.”
Sheridan was referring to Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas, a Republican, who at Tuesday’s County Council meeting said the emergency “firmly belongs” to Wolf. Haas clinched a 6-5 vote that rejected an urgently-needed $20 million loan intended to make up for the loss of state funding during the ongoing state budget impasse.
Three local Democratic legislators — Mike Carrol, of Avoca, Eddie Day Pashinski, of Wilkes-Barre, and Gerald Mullery, of Newport Township — released a joint statement, calling the impasse “indefensible.”
“At this point in time, the lack of a state budget is indefensible by anyone in Harrisburg,” the statement said. “Rigid ideological positions must be surrendered in favor of reasonable solutions that include an acceptance of the need for additional revenue.
“Budgets consistent with those approved in recent years are insufficient to meet the needs of our schools and human service providers. It’s time to put aside campaign rhetoric and make the difficult choices that define governing.”
State Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township, said he shares every citizen’s frustration with the state budget impasse.
“It is unacceptable that we are putting schools, counties and non-profit organizations in the precarious situation of borrowing money to continue the delivery of vital services,” Yudichak said. “For months, I have been working with Gov. Wolf and both Republican and Democrat lawmakers to reach a reasonable compromise that would end the impasse with a comprehensive budget that improves the state’s fiscal stability, cuts property taxes and invests in proven strategies to improve our educational system and create jobs.”
Yudichak said he recently met with Luzerne County Manager Robert Lawton as part of his efforts to stay informed about the impasse’s effects on northeastern Pennsylvania.
“I was given no indication in that meeting that the county was in imminent danger of failing to meet its budgetary obligations,” Yudichak said. “Other counties in the commonwealth have met with state officials and developed prudent plans, including short-term borrowing, to weather the storm of a protracted state budget impasse.”
Yudichak said he remains open to discussions with any county official seeking assistance on how best to provide services to county residents for the duration of the budget impasse.
State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, said the “dire straits” the county is in are a direct result of the governor having vetoed the entire budget. She said Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat like Wolf, never did anything like that during his time in office. Toohil said most agencies would get a 10-percent increase in the budget that Republicans passed (without a tax increase) on June 30.
“The people of Pennsylvania deserve an on-time budget and the impact of not having one is far-reaching,” Toohil said. “It is my hope that the budget stalemate will be resolved immediately and the people that we work for will not continue to be negatively impacted. Hopefully, the latest budget will have a two-year plan so that agencies can have more stability.”
Fellow Republican Rep. Karen Boback, of Harveys Lake, said she is “acutely aware” of the impact the state budget impasse has on counties, human service agencies and schools. She said that is why she voted for a budget override and a stop-gap budget to ensure schools and counties had the funding they need.
“Unfortunately, neither attempt was successful,” Boback said. “I will continue to work, along with my colleagues, toward a consensus that will benefit those I serve. That’s the key.”
Progress has been made
Sheridan said the governor recently reached a tentative agreement with Republican leadership and both sides are now trying to work through it all and finalize the budget.
“As the governor has said, he hopes to have the budget resolved by Thanksgiving,” Sheridan said. “But a lot of details still need to be worked out.”
Sheridan said there has been agreement on what he termed “an historic $350 million increase” in the basic education budget and another $50 million increase for special education.
He said there has also been agreement on $2 billion in property tax relief and major reforms to the state pension system and the liquor system.
State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, said he remains hopeful that an agreement is near to ensure a county government shutdown doesn’t happen.
“This situation has gone on far too long and I hope a state budget is signed sooner, rather than later,” he said.
