PA counties challenged

Pike’s human services takes the hit

By TOM KANE

MILFORD, PA — The sun might be shining, but it’s that proverbial rainy day in Pike County.

The county is living on the financial reserves it has been able to stash away because of good planning and stiff fiscal policies over the years. But “It’s not going to last if we don’t get a budget soon,” said Rich Caridi, chairman of the Pike County Commissioners.

Many of the counties surrounding Pike have made some drastic cuts in services. Wayne chopped a half hour off of its operating time and Susquehanna has shifted to a four-day-a-week schedule instead of five.

“We’re not paying all our bills and have cut some services in various departments, limiting our services for all but those in serious need,” Caridi said. “I refuse to borrow any money and I’m not going to let taxpayers pay for these programs. The state has mandated these programs and now it is not paying for them.”

The county has enough money to last to the end of September, he said.

Caridi said he doesn’t want to think about it if the budget impasse continues. “We’ll face that when it happens,” he said.

“I don’t care what budget is passed,” said Pike commissioner Karl Wagner. “Line items in any budget that is adopted are going to be cut. We’ll have to fine tune our budget later. The governor and the legislature don’t seem to realize what’s happening on the local level. The people will have their opportunity to respond at the next election.”

Robin LoDolce, director of the Area Agency on Aging, is just as unhappy as Caridi.

“We’re down to two days a week in home-delivered meals,” she said. “We can’t reimburse people in the medical assistance transportation program who have had to spend their own money to go to doctors and pharmacies, or they are no longer doing that. We are limiting the trips that our staff can take. I’ve never seen conditions this bad in my eight-and-a-half years working here.”

Christine Obser, director of the Human Development Department, is saying the same thing. “We had to stop the homeless assistance program and the mortgage and rental assistance programs. Our food pantry has some funding yet to keep going but it will soon stop.”

Despite these conditions, many providers of services are still functioning without pay. “We cannot last much longer,” she said.

If the budget isn’t forthcoming by October, every department will have to sit down and make some drastic cuts.