Carbon County commissioners approved several financial measures Thursday while warning that the state budget stalemate could soon force cuts to services for children, seniors and people struggling with addiction.

The board approved a $1 million loan to Children and Youth Services through the General Fund Clearing Account. Commissioners also adopted a resolution urging the Pennsylvania Legislature and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration to reimburse counties for all interest payments on loans at the current federal rate.

A request to authorize a $200,000 loan to the Carbon Monroe Pike Drug & Alcohol Commission was tabled.

Commissioners said the impasse is already creating a crisis.

“If there’s not a budget, Children and Youth, Agency on Aging, Drug and Alcohol and other services that rely on state funding are going to fail,” Commissioner Rocky Ahner said. “Providers are coming to us for money to keep them going. The county always covers the cost of unfunded mandates and state budget stalemates. It’s time the administration and legislators take responsibility for their constituents’ welfare.”

Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said frustration dominated discussions at the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania conference in Seven Springs earlier this week.

“Every session, every break, every business meeting, the conversation came back to the frustrations of county commissioners with the lack of funding and the loss of interest on funds that are just sitting there,” Nothstein said. “We’re losing interest all the time. We’re not sure if we can approve more loans. We have to start tightening our belts to get through this year.”

Nothstein noted the problem is not new.

“In 2009, a budget impasse cost us a lot of money,” he said. “In 2015 and 2016, there was a nine-month delay in passing the budget. Commissioners across the state are fed up with this.”

The county has already notified providers it cannot keep paying them.

“We sent a letter to Children and Youth providers that we cannot pay them much longer. The Aging Department and other programs are also at risk.”

Commissioner Mike Sofranko said the issue is hitting every county in Pennsylvania.

“This is not just a Carbon County issue. It is a statewide issue,” Sofranko said. “As we give out money to keep agencies afloat, we don’t have that money in the bank. We’re not collecting interest, which means our revenue is going down.”

Sofranko said Shapiro needs to step in.

“My frustration falls mostly on the governor, because he is the leader and he should get everybody to the table,” he said. “He’s proud of fixing the unemployment system so people get checks faster. Well, if this continues, we’ll see how well it works, because there will be a lot of people filing for unemployment. Counties this size cannot afford to keep going like this.”

The impact, Ahner added, is already visible in the community.

“Adoptions could be stopped,” he said. “People in rehab might not finish their treatment. Are we supposed to be the bad guys and pull the plug? It’s going to come to that, because we’re running out of money. We spend millions every month on payroll and payments. If this continues, the county will be broke by November. Plain and simple.”

Service providers have been forced to take out mortgages in the past to stay open.

“In 2015 and 2016, providers were taking mortgages on their homes to keep their businesses running and care for children,” Nothstein said. “They were never reimbursed. This is serious. I encourage providers and families to call their legislators. That’s the only way to speed this up.”

The county, Sofranko added, has already made major efforts to cut costs.

“At the beginning of this year, we took out an $8 million tax anticipation note,” he said. “We only spent $4 million, saving $4 million in costs and interest. Everyone worked hard to save that money. In less than 60 days, Harrisburg has eaten it all up.”

He said loans to Children and Youth alone are now approaching $3 million.

“That doesn’t include other departments. We’re spending about half a million every two weeks. That’s a million a month,” Sofranko said.

Nothstein said the General Assembly isn’t scheduled to return until September. “They’re not even in Harrisburg dealing with this right now,” he added. “This affects every taxpayer in Carbon County and across the state. The only way this gets done is if people force them to the table. Contact your legislators and the governor’s office and tell them to do their job.”