Armstrong County announces furloughs, program cuts stemming from state budget delay

Armstrong County officials say the state’s budget fiasco is forcing furloughs and program cuts that could affect the county’s most vulnerable populations.

Beginning Oct. 1, seven out of nine county senior centers will be closed, effectively furloughing eight center employees and eliminating about 500 senior meals. Only the Kittanning and Distant locations will remain open.

The county commissioners announced Friday morning that the county’s Children, Youth and Family service and the county’s Area Agency on Aging also will experience furloughs and significant reductions in services.

“Almost four months into the new fiscal year, we have not received the essential state payments needed to run mandated programs,” said a statement from the commissioners. “Our county reserves were never intended to cover the state’s financial obligations indefinitely.”

County Commissioner Anthony Shea said, during a typical week, the nine senior centers serve about 2,500 meals, whether in-person or delivered.

“Those seniors, some of their only socialization for the day is when they go to the senior center,” Shea said.

Ray Straughn has been the manager of the county-funded Freeport Senior Center for the past four years.

Each weekday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. he helps feed the area’s seniors hot meals and helps with other programming the center provides.

Straughn, 73, was told Friday morning this routine would be put on hold starting Oct. 1.

“I was kind of stunned,” he said.

Straughn said he can’t imagine any existing entity or program that can replace the services the senior center provides. On a normal day, the center sees about 10 seniors, he said. On busy days, usually Tuesdays and Thursdays, the center will serve around 20 seniors.

“It’s a shame because most of (the seniors) can afford their meals, but we do have people that can’t,” Straughn said. “Those are the ones I worry about.”

Officials are looking at next steps for additional furloughs in regard to budgeting, union and nonunion workers, Shea said.

Westmoreland County announced furloughs and service cuts in some agencies earlier this week.

According to Armstrong officials, the state provides 80% of the funding for CYF. The agency is already over $2.2 million in arrears for this fiscal year. The state provides 100% funding for the Area Agency on Aging, which is over $157,000 in arrears for the fiscal year.

“We’ve been doing the best we can to keep everything afloat, but we’re basically at the day of reckoning,” Shea said. “We’re out of money where we can do this on our own anymore.”

According to Shea, the county’s $25 million budget relies on $10 million in grants, state funding and other types of outside revenues.

“It’s a shame because the budget was supposed to be taken care of,” Straughn said.

Also on Oct. 1, the county will cease payments to foster families who have taken in children. Those payments come from state funds. Reimbursements for the program’s 12 caseworkers will also be frozen until the state budget is resolved.

“It’s hitting the people who are doing the hardest work,” Shea said.

Steve Cantanese, president of Service Employees International Union Local 668, said the union heard about the furloughs through the media. As of Friday evening, he and representatives of the union had not spoken with commissioners or other county representatives. Cantanese said the union is experiencing similar cutbacks in other counties, including Westmoreland.

“We know counties across the commonwealth are feeling these pressures,” Cantanese said. “We know that when these things happen, the burden falls on the most vulnerable individuals.”

He hopes this is a wake-up call for lawmakers to get the budget passed.

“The dysfunction in Harrisburg is falling squarely on the backs of the most vulnerable people,” Cantanese said.

He said the union intends to work with the county to figure out ways to avoid the furloughs. In similar situations in other counties, Cantanese said, fund transfers or loans have been solutions to keep Children, Youth and Family services afloat.

“Sooner or later, this budget has to get done so these services can continue,” he said.

In the meantime, Straughn will be ready and waiting for the center to reopen.

Shea urged residents to contact lawmakers to advocate for a spending bill to be passed. He emphasized the importance of money being available for programs such as CYF and the Area Agency on Aging.

“This isn’t about politics anymore, Democrats or Republicans,” Shea said. “This is about taking action, getting a budget passed.”