State budget stalemate impacting local agencies
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- For some taxpayers, there seems to be an apparent lack of impact despite the almost 100-day budget impasse in Harrisburg.
State offices are operating, state workers are paid and schools are open, but, for some, things are fraying.
Philadelphia schools had to borrow more than $250 million to replace $400 million owed by the state. As an austerity move, it's also delaying payments to vendors.
Still the borrowed money could run out by the end of the month.
"We're getting very nervous. By the end of the month we may have to take other measures," said Fernando Gallard, Philadelphia School District Chief of Communications.
Catholic schools have also been hit as well as text books, purchased by the state, have not arrived said state Rep. Bill Adolph (R-Delaware County).
"They have been in school since the first week of September with no text books," said Adolph. "We have 200,000 kids like that throughout the Commonwealth."
State Sen. Vincent Hughes Thursday blamed Republicans for the gridlock, suggesting a political agenda at work to embarrass the freshman Democratic governor.
"Our school children should not be held hostage, and that clearly is what is happening here," said Hughes.
Nonsense said Republicans, adding money could be flowing to schools and agencies now if the Governor had not vetoed a GOP emergency funding measure.
"It's unnecessary, it's unnecessary. Let's get the emergency funding out, it's not going to change the final budget," said Adolph.
Action News spoke to Gov. Tom Wolf Thursday as he arrived for a political event in Philadelphia.
"Everything will be done pretty well if we have a budget," the governor said in response to Republicans assertion more emergency measures needed to be passed to help relieve financial burdens on schools and social services.
