Delay in state budget sparks different levels of concern in Butler County
The delay in the final approval of the $45.4 billion state budget is more concerning to some local entities than others.
Among the most concerned is Community Partnership of Butler County, which only has enough money in its bank account to cover about two months of payroll and operating expenses.
Community Partnership receives reimbursement for payroll for its four full-time and one part-time employees, as well as operating expenses to run its antipoverty programs through a federally funded Community Service Block Grant that is administered by the state.
“We comfortably have about two months left for salaries,” said Sandra Curry, executive director. “There is nobody that’s not paid from the block grant.”
The legislature has approved the budget, and Gov. Josh Shapiro has said he will sign it, but he hasn’t received it yet. The Senate president pro tempore, Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, must deliver a signed copy of the budget bill to the governor to sign, however the Senate isn’t due back in session until Sept. 18.
Curry said Community Partnership’s finances will last until then, but it can take anywhere from weeks to a month or two for state budget authorized payments to reach their intended destinations.
