Carbon County is starting to feel the effects of the state budget impasse and the commissioners warn that if the state doesn’t come together soon, counties, schools and residents may struggle.

On Thursday, the board of commissioners approved a $500,000 loan from the county general fund to the Carbon County Children and Youth Services to help cover the departments bills that are normally paid by the state.

Commissioners’ Chairman Mike Sofranko said that this loan is just the beginning, with another $1 million loan expected to be transferred to the department next week.

“That’s $1.5 million that is not in the county coffers,” he said, noting that these loans are on top of the 20% of the $10 million budget the county is responsible for. “Yes, we will get that money back at some point in time, but as you know, that while that money is not in the county’s savings or funds, there is no interest being collected and that helps substantially when offsetting other costs throughout the county.”

He again urged lawmakers to come back to the table and pass a budget.

“I’m not blaming any specific state official, but I do hold the governor responsible,” Sofranko said. “He should be out there really bringing these sides together and getting something done. ... He needs to get the Senate and the House together ... because it is really going to start affecting (everyone). We didn’t even get into the Office of Aging yet. We’re doing the best we can to continue to maintain those services.”

The board of commissioners plan to meet with Children and Youth to see where costs could be trimmed until a budget is passed and money starts flowing again from the state to the department.

“Our goal right now are the children and the elderly,” Sofranko said. “The children and the elderly of this county need to be taken care of and the county commissioners will see to it that that is being done, but you do need to know that it does put a substantial financial burden on a county this size, or any county for that matter.”

The commissioners have been vocal about the budget impasse and how it will put a strain on counties that need to provide services whether the money is coming in from the state or not, and have voiced that something needs to happen.

Counties are required to have their next year’s budgets passed by Dec. 31 of each year; however the state’s fiscal year begins July 1 and that deadline has not been met for several years.

The House is expected to hold a weekend session beginning today. Non-voting days will be held today and Saturday, with voting days scheduled to take place Sunday and Monday.

The Senate has not announced if it will also call lawmakers in for a session next week.

Gov. Josh Shapiro announced his proposed $51.4 billion budget in February; however the House and Senate had not agreed with the proposed 7.5% spending increase.

Last month, the House passed a budget plan; however that plan was rejected by the Senate. Sticking points includes education spending, regulating skill games and public transit.

According to Sens. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, and Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, the two sides are not confident that a deal will be reached in the immediate future.

In neighboring counties, they are also beginning to feel the squeeze that Carbon is feeling.

Lehigh County has used $10 million of its $25 million fund balance, with officials saying that if a state budget isn’t passed by November, the county will reach crisis level.