Wayne and Pike to make drastic cuts in services

Budget in the hands of five men

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — Beginning September 7, Wayne County initiated several reductions and restrictions in order to make up for the lack of a state budget. The county will reduce operations by one-half hour each day in all county buildings.

The total cuts for Pike County, which has been delayed because of the absence of commissioner Karl Wagner, will happen soon.

“These temporary measures will remain in effect until the passage of the state budget,” said Brian Smith, chairman of the Wayne commissioners.

The courthouse, Dimmick building, Park Street Complex, drug and alcohol department and the Office of the Aging buildings will be open for public business at 9:00 a.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. The recycling center will delay operations until 7:30 a.m. The Hamlin, Honesdale and Hawley senior centers will close at 2:00 p.m.

Also, pending further communications from Harrisburg, the medical assistance transportation in both counties will be restricted to the most critical cases.

“If no further movement in the Commonwealth budgetary situation occurs by October 1, voluntary and involuntary lay-offs, as well as further reductions in county services will be effected,” Smith said.

The budget impasse in Harrisburg is now in the hands of five men: Governor Rendell and the majority and minority leaders in both houses of the legislature.

Pennsylvania is the only state in the union with a July 1 deadline that doesn’t have a full budget, as Connecticut resolved its impasse earlier this week. A stopgap budget, in place since August 5, leaves school districts and social services without billions of dollars of state aid and has dozens of state agencies operating at minimal capacity.

In Wayne, even further reductions in operating hours and service levels may occur in November as the county continues to evaluate the effects of the situation in Harrisburg, Smith said.

The Wayne commissioners have agreed to a seven percent reduction in their salaries.

Every county in the state is taking these kinds of actions, said Pike commissioner Harry Forbes. “Columbia County has decided to limit the work week of employees to four days a week. Other counties are enforcing lay-offs and furloughs.”

“We will be forced to pay for essential, mandated services that are usually funded by the state out of the general fund,” Smith said.

According to the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), about 17,000 children in need throughout the state will lose their services even if the budget is passed. Possible jobs lost in these programs would reach about 2,000.

“We are attempting to maintain the most important core services for our residents,” said Wayne Commissioner Tony Herzog. “We will be forced to take even more drastic measures if the legislature doesn’t act.”