ALLENTOWN, Pa. – With a state budget nearly four months past due, Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong has some choice words for Pennsylvania lawmakers.
“I would look them in the eye and say, ‘do your job,'” said Armstrong.
Armstrong says the delay in Harrisburg has created holes in the county’s 538-million-dollar budget.
Lehigh County adopts $538.5M budget, discusses loan amid state budget gridlock
He says the state owes the county 40-60 million dollars and is sitting on it until a budget passes.
Armstrong says that the government shut down and the freeze of federal funds has forced the county to dip into its reserve fund, using money that instead of earning interest, will be used to fill the gap.
Armstrong says the hard reality is that reserve fund could run out by year’s end.
“January 1, all will hit the fan if there’s no budget for us, and I’m sure it’s already hit the fan for many counties, but for us, if there’s no budget by the first of the year, it really will be a tsunami,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong says the county is not reducing staff or community services.
But says if the situation isn’t resolved it could have an impact on its ability to pay vendors and even its bond rating.
He says the county is making contingency plans to take out an emergency loan, but it’s unlikely it will be able to get enough to cover the shortfall.
“I thought Covid, getting through Covid was tough. This makes Covid look like a walk in the park,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong says the state should at least release money for the programs it requires counties to provide.
He says he’s sent a strongly worded letter to lawmakers urging them to put politics aside and pass a budget as soon as possible.