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If legislators do not pass a budget within the next few weeks, some workers at Northern Tier Community Action Corp. could be laid off, Executive Director Ken Straub said in an interview Thursday. The corporation has about 90 full- and part-time employees.
Although a panel of lawmakers agreed on the $27.95 billion budget Sept. 18, it has yet to be passed.
Already, Northern Tier has been forced to halt its home-based Head Start that operates in the Bennetts Valley and Fox Township areas of Elk County.
Closing of the home-based Head Start has impacted a dozen area children and three workers. The program would have been in its fourth year, Straub said. Last year's budget was about $60,000.
"We're ready to go," he said. "We are trying to move forward. Unfortunately, when the state money hits, it is all going to hit at the same time."
Other programs that could be on the cutting block, Straub said, as a result of the budget impasse, could be weatherization assistance, state Department of Agriculture and food and nutrition. Northern Tier serves about 5,200 people a year, he said.
If the budget is passed tomorrow, for example, the corporation could borrow more money, since the state allocations would arrive in about four to six weeks.
As it stands, Straub said, Northern Tier has amassed debts estimated at $550,000. It costs about $5.4 million to fund its programs and pay its workers. Revenue is generated through state, federal and private contracts.
More information about Northern Tier Community Action Corp. and its programs is available by contacting Straub at (814) 486-1161.
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Reported by Alex Davis, Tri-County Sunday correspondent. E-mail: alexwdavis@gmail.com.
