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Dauphin Co. Commissioners rip state legislature, threaten to stop payments

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Dauphin County Commissioners channelled their inner-Howard Beale at their weekly meeting Wednesday: They are mad as hell, and they’...

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Dauphin County Commissioners channelled their inner-Howard Beale at their weekly meeting Wednesday: They are mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore.

The reaction made famous by the movie "Network" could have been said by commissioners George Hartwick or chairman Jeff Haste, as they voiced their displeasure over the state's budget impasse.

"What has happened in this recent budget framework is unconscionable," Hartwick said.

"This again highlights the fact that the state system is close to being broke if it isn’t already broke," Haste echoed.

Wednesday marked 148 days in Pennsylvania without a state budget.

The commissioners frustration centers on money spent and money owed. Currently, Dauphin County has paid the state $27,895,000 in monthly fees this fiscal year, Hartwick said. They are owed $27.6 million by the state to go towards human service group funding and other nonprofits. However, the county has not seen a dime from that total with money locked up from the budget impasse.

"The hypocrisy is we are doing work on behalf of the commonwealth, but they choose not to pay their bills," Haste said. "Counties are saying 'Enough is enough.' If you’re going to do that, we’re not giving you money anymore."

Haste said county commissioners from across the state met over the weekend. Nearly everyone of the 300 commissioners who attended, he said, agreed their counties needed to look into withholding payments to the commonwealth until state funding is reopened.

Included in the money scheduled to come to counties was $172 million promised by Governor Wolf to go towards groups, such as Children and Youth Services. Instead, that money is now being used elsewhere in state budget negotiations, Hartwick says.

"They are taking what should be gained in revenue from a state budget to fully fund children and youth services and passing it on to local county property tax owners," he said.

Dauphin County decided not to vote on the budget proposal presented to them Wednesday, opting to wait until the state's budget crisis clears up. Counties are supposed to have a budget completed by December 31.

"The governor understands the hardships counties are facing as a result of the budget impasse," Governor Wolf's press secretary Jeff Sheridan responded in a statement. "He is working as hard as he can to reach a final budget and is hopeful the legislature will send him a budget by next Friday."

County commissioners tabled their budget proposal Wednesday. They have 20 days to review and make changes before making their next decision.

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