Bucks County Stops Payments To Harrisburg

Bucks County has officially stopped sending payments to Harrisburg in light of a continued state budget impasse, according to a report by the Intelligencer.

The unanimous decision to halt payments took effect at noon on Tuesday, the report said.

The move comes after a five-month budget impasse continues in Harrisburg.

According to figures from the Courier Times report, the county collects as much as $5 million in taxes that are designated for the state. However, each month since the budget stalemate, officials say they have had to withdraw an estimated $6 million to cover state programs.

If that continues, Bucks County could burn through its savings by the end of the year, the Courier Times reported.

Local leaders hope the move to withhold funds will send a message to leaders to solve the state budget crisis. They also encourage other counties to follow suit.

Earlier this month, Gov. Wolf announced lawmakers were nearing a budget deal. 

In a statement released Nov. 9, Gov. Wolf announced: “I’ve secured a commitment from Republican leaders for a historic increase in education funding.”

The Morning Call reported that under the deal being negotiated, public schools will get $350 million more for instruction and operations, which is a 6 percent increase.

“After months of obstruction, we’ve made real progress on a budget deal and for the first time I’m optimistic we can see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Wolf said in the statement.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that budget negotiators have been discussing a $30.26 billion state budget that increases education funding through a sales tax hike. State pension reform is also considered in those negotiations, according to the Inquirer.

“We’re beginning to make education once again the priority it should be so that our children can compete in the 21st century economy,” Wolf said in the statement.

However, since that announcement, no further information regarding a solution to the budget stalemate has been released.