2008 News
May 6, 2008
Bucks County Human Services Leaders in Harrisburg
Several leadership representatives of Bucks County’s Human Services departments met with other state human services leaders in Harrisburg today to discuss the affect of cuts to the state budget and the ability to deliver mandated services. Representing Bucks County were Lynn Kallus-Rainey, director, Children and Youth Social Services Agency; Mary Richter, deputy administrator, Mental Health/Mental Retardation department, and Margaret Hanna, executive director, Drug and Alcohol Commission.
County officials pressed members of the General Assembly to increase funding levels currently proposed in the Commonwealth budget bill for human services programs the counties must administer. Counties face increasing costs, while the need for services in the current troubled economy is expected to escalate.
Specifically, counties are asking for a three-percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for child welfare, mental health and mental retardation, juvenile, drug and alcohol treatment, and long term care within the commonwealth budget. Counties say a three-percent COLA falls far short of addressing existing needs, but it is a fair budget request given the availability of state revenues this year.
Another area cited by counties is the Human Services Development Fund (HSDF), which is the most flexible funding stream available to counties, allowing them to direct more money towards the community’s greatest areas of need. The current budget proposal calls for a $1.25 million dollar decrease over the 07-08 budget. Counties find this unacceptable. Because of needs that are likely to increase in local communities driven by the current state of the economy, the legislature needs to grant a $7.5 million increase in state funds to restore the fund to its 2002-03 levels.
The passage of the Commonwealth budget will have a profound impact on how county government operates, considering human services currently comprise nearly 50% of the entire Bucks County budget.