As the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board holds a public meeting today to form its 2013-14 human services plan, the agency continues to meet the needs of clients under state budget cuts.
Mark Egly, county Children and Youth Services administrator, told Lycoming County commissioners Tuesday at their work session that the $7 million Joinder plan must be submitted to the state by the end of the month.
The plan includes mental health, intellectual disabilities, children and youth, drug and alcohol and homeless assistance services, Egly said.
"We're already operating under less funding throughout the entire system," he said, noting the state's budget cuts that slashed program funding by 10 percent.
Egly said the board was making cuts well before the state reduced funding.
"We were a little bit ahead of the curve," he said.
Commissioner Jeff C. Wheeland said the Joinder has not filled open staff positions and has instituted spending restraints.
Both Egly and Wheeland agreed that they were frustrated for being financially penalized for good performance and taking cost-cutting measures on their own.
Mya Toon, county grants administrator, also told commissioners that a homeless assistance grant for the Lycoming United Way from the state Department of Public Welfare is expected to be about 10 percent less than expected. She said the pass-through grant is expected to total about $148,000.
At their Thursday meeting commissioners will consider an agreement with an Indiana, Pa., residential group home for short-term and long-term male adolescents at a cost of $165 a day.
Commissioners also will consider an agreement for legal services from attorney Donald Martino to represent criminal defendants in a future homicide trial. The proposal calls for a fee of up to $90 a day.
