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Budget Concerns Continue

Budget Concerns Continue - Saturday, September 12, 2009 at 5:08PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Saturday, Sep 12, 2009 @ 05:08pm EDT

Luzerne County Commissioner Steve Urban says the budget impasse is hurting every region in the state. He says the county hasn't received state funding needed to pay service providers.

"United Children's Home in Hazleton - they haven't been paid since March," said Urban, whose main concern lies with groups and school districts having to borrow money at high interest rates just to continue operating on a day-to-day basis. "They're having to get extended lines of credit just to keep their people paid."

Legislators still get paid, although some have refused until the impasse is over. People tell Eyewitness News lawmakers shouldn't get paid until their budget duties are fulfilled.

"I think the lawmakers should take a freeze in pay just like the people are are suffering," said Tony Bonczewski of Wilkes-Barre.

"I think there should be legislation for a pay freeze," Urban agreed.

"They should also put in legislation saying that elected leaders' wages are frozen immediately upon the impasse of a budget," said Kevin Haggerty of Scranton, who has been collecting donations for Meals on Wheels and getting signatures for petitions asking for the legislature to downsize. "It's the largest legislature in the country, and that has something to do with why we have an impasse year in and year out."

Even if the budget passes soon, Gary Drapek, the president and CEO of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties says it'll take a while for the money to trickle down.

"Once the budget is passed, even if it's passed tomorrow, there is traditionally a 60-day lag period before vendors or agencies are paid," said Drapek, who hopes lawmakers will create legislation to distribute the money even faster.
 


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