County Assessing Impact Of New State Budget

Potter County leaders are assessing the local impact of the state’s fiscal 2012-13 budget, which cleared the legislature over the weekend and was signed by Gov. Tom Corbett. One area that’s under review is the possibility of Potter being chosen as one of 20 pilot counties for implementation of a Human Services Block Grant. The budget has slashed funding for human services programs by 10 percent. Providing that money through a block grant, rather than in specific categories, could help ease the impact by giving counties more flexibility. State funds support Potter County Human Services in operation of programs the county is mandated to provide for senior citizens, individuals with mental health or addiction problems, those with intellectual disabilities, victims of child abuse or neglect, and other vulnerable citizens. Block grants would be phased in to allow counties to make administrative and program changes to provide better coordinated, integrated and sustainable human services programs.