County leaders say furloughs, service cuts won't disappear because of state budget deal

County officials are relieved that state money will begin flowing again but they aren’t out of the woods just yet.

Despite a new state budget being signed Wednesday, austerity measures in most counties are expected to continue, including employee furloughs that, in some cases, could last through the end of the year.

The Pennsylvania House and Senate on Wednesday approved a $50.1 billion budget that is expected to restore funding to public schools and social services for the first time since July.

The worry is how quickly funding from Harrisburg will make it to county offers.

“It’s not going to happen in a snap,” said Anthony Shea, an Armstrong County commissioner.

Shea and other county heads are champing at the bit to reopen programs that were put on hiatus. It will happen as soon as the county has money to pay the bills, he said.

“We have to wait for the treasury to send the money,” Shea said. “We can’t write any checks before we have money in the account.”

In Allegheny County, officials are waiting for about $150 million in state reimbursements, according to spokeswoman Abigail Gardner.

The county lost millions of dollars in interest that it would have been collecting, she said. Lost investment income has required a spending and hiring freeze through the end of the year.

That includes seasonal positions and holiday festivities at some county parks. Gardner said there will be no Christmas decorations at the Tudor-­style Hartwood Mansion, which typically draws crowds. In addition, the ice rinks at North and South parks won’t open until Dec. 20, about a month after the usual start date.

“We’re not changing those dates,” Gardner said. “We’re directing county staff to still consider the freeze in discretionary spending and hiring in place.”

No Allegheny County employees were furloughed because of the state budget fallout, she said.

In Westmoreland County — where 125 employees were furloughed in October — officials expect those workers to remain off the job through the end of the year as the county waits for state money to arrive.

County Commissioner Sean Kertes said Wednesday that state funding for many social services provided through the county will return, but incrementally, meaning it could be some time before Westmoreland County is back to business as usual.

In addition to the furloughs, the county’s cost-saving measures, including a hiring freeze, partial facility closings and limits on purchasing, will continue until the state money rolls in, Westmoreland officials said.

In Armstrong County, Shea said the commissioners were close to taking a nearly $1 million loan to help the administration “limp along” until January. The budget approval makes the loan unnecessary, he said.

Still, Shea is counting the days until his administration can start making good on the “12-inch pile of bills” that have stacked up.

He’s also eager to see people return for socialization at the seven senior centers that are temporarily closed.

Ray Straughn is one of the Armstrong County employees who can’t wait to get back to work.

The manager of the Freeport Senior Center was furloughed Oct. 1 while Armstrong County officials struggled with a state budget impasse nearing three months at that point. The commissioners were forced to close seven of the nine county-funded senior centers, ending hot meals, bingo and other programs for older folks. About eight employees were laid off.

“The people have missed getting together,” Straughn said. “It might sound silly, but I’m excited to get paid again. I sure hope we go back soon.”

In the meantime, the Freeport nonprofit Dynamic Community Foundation has been filling the gap.

Run by real estate agent Heidi Powell, the volunteer group got its start during the covid-19 pandemic and dished out 25,000 meals to help families in crisis.

The government shutdown found Powell and others stepping up again to feed locals in need.

“We have a lot of families that need support after SNAP benefits were shut off,” Powell said.

There is an application on the group’s Facebook page for a $25 grocery gift card to Sprankle’s.

On Nov. 22, the group is partnering with 12 Bravo BBQ to offer 300 free meals, first-come, first-served at the Next Home Dynamic office on Fifth Street in Freeport.

“There is so much need,” Powell said. “We want to be a small part to help plug the hole until things are up and running.”