HONESDALE, PA — The largest part of the county’s funding for children and youth services is provided by the state, and estimates of 2015 expenditures go to the Department of Children and Youth in Harrisburg as state budget negotiations get underway this time of year.

Wayne County Human Services Director Andrea Whyte last week asked for the commissioners’ endorsement of her $4,791,486 proposal.

The budget would require $3,517,315 in state money, to be matched by $1,274,171 in county funding.

Commissioner Wendell Kay said, “It is important to point out that we won’t have a real number until next year is completed. This $4.8 million estimate is significant in that we know that 79% of the money is in state and federal sources.”

And, he added, “If we go over that amount, we could be responsible for 100% [of the overage].”

Separately, the commissioners also approved a recycling support grant application under Section 904 of the state’s Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act (Act 101). Wayne is reporting to have recycled 4,593 tons of waste, including 1,377 tons of residential waste and 3,216 tons of commercial waste.

The commissioners reported that the area’s commercial trash collector, County Waste, does not provide its figures for the grant application. “So that’s money we can’t get,” commissioners’ chair Brian Smith said.

While the commercial hauler isn’t required to file, “It would be neighborly of them,” Kay said.

Recovered 904 grant funding goes to Wayne municipalities for local recycling services.

The commissioners also formally agreed to participate in the continuing restoration of the old Stourbridge School, and thus accepted the county’s $31,937 share of a $799,320 state Department of Commerce and Economic Development Local Share grant won through a Monroe County application.

In other business, the panel agreed to provide a letter of support for the Wayne Economic Development Corporation application for funding to expand broadband Internet service in the southern end of the county.