EASTON, Pa. – Furlough notices are unofficially off the table for some 175 Northampton County human services employees who were previously told they could lose their jobs as early as next week.

Those workers were informed last month they could be furloughed starting on Oct. 20, due to the ongoing state budget impasse. Northampton County was expected to go cash-negative in early November.

But Thursday night, County Executive Lamont McClure told Northampton County Council during its regular meeting that the first estimate was incorrect; instead, the county has enough money to sustain it through the beginning of the new year. “We don’t go red until January 17,” McClure said.

He pointed out that the timeframe could change, should an unexpected expense land in the county’s lap in the weeks ahead. For that reason, McClure said, the furloughs cannot yet be officially rescinded. The county is required to give its unionized workers 30 days’ notice about any possible layoffs.

The Pennsylvania state budget is now more than 100 days overdue. State funds cover 80% to 100% of all county human services employees’ paychecks.

On Thursday night — the fate of nearly 200 Northampton County employees continues to hang in the balance.

McClure’s remarks on Thursday came after council heard from some of the people who would be potentially impacted by the furloughs, which includes case workers who deal with abused children and the elderly, and those receiving mental health services.

“Please keep these employees on their job,” said Kezzy Johnson, chief shop steward for the workers’ union, SEIU Local 668. “They are struggling. They are working paycheck to paycheck. And even one day, even one week (without pay), would not only affect their ability to pay rent, their ability to pay for their car, their ability to pay for childcare — it’s also affecting their ability to provide great services for the people of this county.”

McClure had said all along that the furloughs would be used as a last resort, but the possibility that they could be laid off at any time is like an “ax hanging over their head like a pendulum,” added SEIU President Steve Catanese.

The human services employees were joined in their frustration by some members of council, who questioned why the furlough notices had to be issued in the first place.


Human services employees facing furloughs plead for different solution

Northampton County human services workers want to know what will be done to protect the people they serve, as a possible furlough date draws closer. 

“I don’t know why we created this mass hysteria,” said council Vice President John Goffredo.

McClure told council the county is also exploring the possibility of getting a $10 million loan from the state treasury while the budget stalemate continues, but only if the loan will be given interest free. Those details are still being worked out, he said.