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Motion, expressing the Sense of Council of Allegheny County, urging the General Assembly to restore funding for the Human Services Development Fund in such amount as to reimburse Allegheny County for the funding advanced to the program; and, further, to continue funding for critical programs.
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WHEREAS, in March of 2003, the Governor's fiscal year 2003-2004 budget was approved, containing a reduction of Human Services Development Funds (HSDF) allocated to Allegheny County from $4,685,878 to $78,011, or 98% of the funds allocated to the County in the 2002-2003 budget; and these funds were essentially carried over from the prior fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, following the budget's passage, the Governor and General Assembly indicated their intent to enter into budget negotiations and numerous assurances were made that every effort would be made to restore the funding for specific programs, including the HSDF Program; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County, acting in good faith and reliance upon those assertions, provided an allocation of funding to continue HSDF programs for the month of July 2003 in order to ensure minimal disruption of services, hoping that lawmakers and the governor would resolve the budget impasse and restore funding; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County actively reallocated sources to address the reduction in funding while still ensuring that the most critical programs have been continued; and
WHEREAS, since that time, Allegheny County has provided two additional allocations of $1,015,000 and $263,000 in funding to continue HSDF Programs that provide critical services to approximately 10,000 needy residents of the County through the end of December 2003; and
WHEREAS, in making the decision to provide funding for the HSDF Program, policy makers took into consideration that loss of these programs would interrupt or eliminate programs such as in-home services for disabled adults; life skills to parents and caregivers to prevent child abuse; counseling and advocacy for children who have witnessed violence and for seniors who are victims of violent crimes; and
WHEREAS, the loss of such programs would have a greater impact in that there is a likely increased involvement in crime, child abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, and more relapse and recidivism which, in turn, translates to additional costs the County and the Commonwealth for jails, the criminal justice system, and an increased burden on offices such as Public Welfare and Children, Youth & Families; and
WHEREAS, the use of local taxpayer dollars in this manner was a responsible and conscientious response to the crisis created by the budget impasse; carrying the Commonwealth's responsibility for this period of time reflects commitment to the community and awareness of the ills that could befall our County and Commonwealth without such services; and
WHEREAS, the budget impasse continues while $900 million remains unallocated in Harrisburg; Allegheny County has from their own fund balance allocated a total of $1,656,011 to ensure that residents of this County are not deprived of the services that ensure their quality of life.
NOW THEREFORE, IT IS MOVED, AND IT IS THE SENSE OF THE COUNCIL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, that we urge the General Assembly to restore funding for the Human Services Development Fund in such amount as to reimburse Allegheny County for the funding advanced to the program and; further, to continue funding for critical programs.
BE IT FURTHER MOVED that copies of this motion be transmitted to the Governor of the Commonwealth and the Members of the General Assembly from Allegheny County.