Budget woes affect agency
As the Pennsylvania budget impasse continues, Intermediate Unit 1, which provides special education services in three counties, could be forced to suspend critical programs by mid-January.
IU1 already has taken out a $10 million line of credit that will carry the agency through the middle of January.
But the IU1 Board of Directors must plan how the agency will operate in the weeks to follow, without any money coming in from the commonwealth.
IU1 director Charles Mahoney said Wednesday the board discussed taking out an additional line of credit.
The board wants to do whatever is necessary to continue to provide special education services to IU1 students, Mahoney said, but it hasn’t ruled out suspending student services.
Since July 1, neither the IU nor any other IU or school district across the state has received any funding from the state government because Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature have been unable to agree on a budget. The impasse has halted funding to schools, social programs and other organizations.
“We thought the budget impasse would be settled by now. It’s impacting a lot of programs,” said Mahoney said. “I’ve been in this business for more than 43 years and never have I seen this type of political activity going on without passing the necessary funds for service and educational programs. A lot of our programs are special needs services for kids with autism, kids in wheelchairs, kids who can’t communicate and who need additional support staff. They’re going to be missing that. It really is disheartening.”
The agency provides special education services to students who are among the 57,000 children in 25 school districts in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.
A large percentage of IU’s budget comes from state funds or pass-through funds from the federal government.
IU1 has taken steps to cut expenses during the budget stalemate, including delaying reimbursement of employee travel expenses until a state budget is passed, delaying contract payments and collaborating with IU1 school districts regarding their payments for IU1 services.