County waiting for $13 million from state
County officials said Wednesday, Oct. 8, $13 million is sitting in the state treasury waiting to be forwarded to Butler County, as the stalemate in adopting a state budget has passed three months.
The budget was due June 30, but the Democrat-led House, Republican-controlled Senate and Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro have been unable to reach an agreement.
“There’s $13 million sitting out there waiting that’s due to the county,” said budget director Ann Brown at the commissioners meeting.
That money includes the first and second quarter advance payments to agencies in the Human Services Department including Children & Youth Services and the Area Agency on Aging, Brown said.
Hotel Occupancy Tax distributions also are victims of the budget impasse.
The state collects the tax and distributes it to counties. Butler County gives a percentage of the money to its tourism agency, Experience Butler County, Brown said.
Moraine State Park was notified that it will not get its distribution from the tax, which is imposed on cabin rentals, until a budget is passed.
“They received a letter saying until the budget is passed, that’s not going to be paid,” Brown said.
The county is using money from its interest-earning operating money market account for cash flow during the budget impasse. The county has not pulled money from money market accounts the treasurer has at several banks, Brown said after the meeting.
For additional cash flow, the commissioners are looking into withholding fees owed to the state until a budget is adopted, she said.
“It’s really the only recourse we have,” Commissioners Chairwoman Leslie Osche said.
She said the county probably cannot withhold tax payments due to the state, but holding on to other fees might be possible.
There are no plans to lay off county employees, she added.
