43
Lawrence commissioners ask: Why should we pay the state?
About 45 state prisoners will soon be housed in the Lawrence County Jail.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Why pay money the county owes Pennsylvania when the state is millions of dollars behind on payments it owes to Lawrence County?
Lawrence County commissioners agreed at their caucus meeting Thursday that it makes no sense. They will ask county Solicitor Tom Leslie whether they can legally follow county Controller David Gettings’ suggestion that the county stop sending money it collects for fees and licenses to the state and use it instead to meet current expenses. Then, when the state again begins reimbursing what it owes to the county, the county would repay what it owes to the state.
“If it’s legal, I say let’s do it,” Commissioner Dan Vogler said.
Commissioners are looking for ways to find money to continue operating despite the state’s failure to pay reimbursements it owes the county since the state’s new budget year began July 1. Pennsylvania remains without a budget because of fighting among state legislators and Gov. Ed Rendell. This means that the county is not receiving normal state reimbursements for Children and Youth Services, Mental Health and Retardation and other services and is being forced to use county money to keep the offices operating.
Commissioner Steve Craig said he suspects the county might be subject to fines and censure if it tries to withhold funds.
Gettings said after the meeting that he doesn’t think the county will really be able to withhold the money. “But somebody needs to make a statement,” he said, adding, “Why pay the state money when they owe us money?”
Also Thursday, Craig reported that the renovation of the Second Presbyterian Church into county offices has been put on hold because of the state budget problems. He said the county is “re-evaluating its options” and should have more information in a week. The commissioners recently purchased the building to use for county offices.
Gettings also reported that within two weeks, 40 to 50 state prisoners soon will arrive to be housed at the Lawrence County Jail for $50 per day.
Gettings, who is Lawrence County Prison Board president, said the county will profit from the arrangement because the actual cost is only $5 per day to feed the prisoners. He said the personnel and other costs are fixed. However, he said the county will not see the money until the state passes its budget.