HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners last week learned that a $10 million cut in Human Services funding is coming.

A letter from the state Department of Human Services reported at the commissioners’ August 4 meeting revealed that the county’s 2017-18 grant will be funded at $5,398,000, translating to a reduction of about $100,000, Commissioner Wendell Kay said. This would appear to be the smallest of recent cuts to the program in recent years.

State funding provides the bulk of Human Services funding, with the county providing approximately 20%.

Human Services Director Andrea Whyte has stated in the past that the county has been better able to deal with state budget changes because Wayne is one of a small number of counties that receives funding through a block grant that allows money to be shifted among various accounts.

Separately, the commissioners approved the Children and Youth Department’s fiscal report to the state covering July 1, 2016 through March 31, 2017 showing expenditures of $3,732,000.

Whyte did not attend last week’s meeting.

The commissioners also approved a new four-year contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) representing 23 court-related non-professional employees. The contract calls for a 2.75% increase this year and next, and 2% in the final two years.

The commissioners also appointed James Martin to the county Housing Authority Board, for a term expiring in May of 2022, and Marjorie Murphy to the county’s Redevelopment Authority for a term expiring in July of 2022; and promoted Crystal Crum as Administrative Assistant I and Kim Follmer as a Behavioral Health Casework Supervisor. Both promotions are to be effective on August 14.

th promotions are to be effective on August 14.