Two Lycoming County agencies that survived the state budget impasse have money in the bank now.
At the Williamsport offices of Lycoming County Children and Youth Services and the Mental Health, Mental Retardation program, administrator Deborah Duffy described how both agencies weathered the storm created by 101 days without a state budget.
"Every day we had to look at what expenditures we had, what we could afford to pay for," said Duffy.
Within days of a budget, she said, state money started trickling in but exactly how much money will come in over the next year is uncertain.
"We have lots of questions, questions about if revenues continue to be low, what that will mean in the second six months of year," Duffy added.
Things were so tight during the impasse, the agency had to remove its water cooler so they would have money to continue serving consumers and families.
According to Mark Egly, who heads up Children and Youth Services,the agency took out a $400,000 loan to cover costs during the budget impasse. Now, Egly figures the agency will have to pay more than $1,000 in loan interest, something it could not budget for.
"It was certainly frustrating to know you have a responsibility to your community to ensure the safety of children, but not have the resources to do that," Egly added.
Both he and Duffy fear what next year could bring if the budget impasse repeats.
"If at all possible, I hope we don't live through this again," Egly said.
At the Williamsport offices of Lycoming County Children and Youth Services and the Mental Health, Mental Retardation program, administrator Deborah Duffy described how both agencies weathered the storm created by 101 days without a state budget.
"Every day we had to look at what expenditures we had, what we could afford to pay for," said Duffy.
Within days of a budget, she said, state money started trickling in but exactly how much money will come in over the next year is uncertain.
"We have lots of questions, questions about if revenues continue to be low, what that will mean in the second six months of year," Duffy added.
Things were so tight during the impasse, the agency had to remove its water cooler so they would have money to continue serving consumers and families.
According to Mark Egly, who heads up Children and Youth Services,the agency took out a $400,000 loan to cover costs during the budget impasse. Now, Egly figures the agency will have to pay more than $1,000 in loan interest, something it could not budget for.
"It was certainly frustrating to know you have a responsibility to your community to ensure the safety of children, but not have the resources to do that," Egly added.
Both he and Duffy fear what next year could bring if the budget impasse repeats.
"If at all possible, I hope we don't live through this again," Egly said.
