As Pa. Budget Stalemate Continues, Delaware County Explores Ways To Keep Covering For Commonwealth To Pay For Human Services
By Jim Melwert
MEDIA, Pa., (CBS) -- With the state-budget stalemate poised to enter a sixth month, Delaware County is sending a letter to human-services providers, letting them know the county will have to stop paying them effective December 1st, and no further payments will be made until a state budget is passed.
Delaware County Councilman Dave White says the county has paid out more than $45 million for human services and services for the aging. Money that should have been paid by the commonwealth had a budget been passed by July 1st.
"How can we keep out state parks open, our liquor stores open and not fund services for our young victims of abuse and neglect," said White.
One option being studied by Delaware County is – like Bucks County – withholding revenues collected by the county for the state, but -- unlike Bucks County, which is just withholding the funds, Delaware County considering using that revenue to cover human services. But is that legal? County solicitor Michael Maddron says the first question, is can the county be held responsible for doing something that is, in effect, being done to cover for the state's shortcoming?
"Can they really come after us, when they're in the wrong in the first place?" said Maddron.
And, he says there's no easy answer to that.
