Northampton County unionized human services workers felt demoralized upon hearing news this week that their jobs would be furloughed next month due to the state budget impasse, said worker and union leader Kezzy Johnson.

The first things they asked, she said, were, “What about our clients? What about the people we serve? Who is going to make sure they are safe and protected?”

Many of the 175 union workers staged a lunchtime rally Friday outside the county Human Services Building in Bethlehem Township to call attention to the plight of those workers, and what will happen to the county’s most vulnerable residents.

They urged people to contact state lawmakers, who have borne the brunt of blame over inaction on a fiscal year 2026 state budget. The stalemate will enter its fourth month Wednesday.

Counties, schools and social services providers have pleaded for months with state lawmakers to finalize a budget so they can begin receiving their expected state payments, which have been on hold since the beginning of the fiscal year July 1.

Some counties have had to secure private loans to hold them over until state payments begin. Others have relied on their reserves, or frozen hiring and spending as they await a resolution to the budget stalemate.

Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure said Thursday that the state budget impasse is forcing his hand to begin furloughing workers Oct. 20 unless a budget deal is reached.

The 175 affected employees, who encompass more than half of the county’s 250 human services workers, include those who handle cases in child welfare, mental health crises and aging services.

McClure said the county should not have to borrow money and potentially saddle taxpayers with the interest off any loans. But others at Friday’s event saw things differently.

“If I’m low on money and am about to miss a mortgage payment, our position is you shouldn’t burn down our house,” said Steve Catanese, SEIU Local 668 president. “You take out a loan, you ask a friend for help, maybe you dip into savings.

“There should be other measures to prevent a complete furlough.”

The county has multiple labor unions among its 1,700 employees, so it was unclear to Catanese why SEIU workers were the ones in danger. The union and county agreed to a three-year contract in 2024.

County spokesperson Jessica Berger said the state covers between 80% and 100% of the union workers’ salaries, and the county has been paying those workers since July 1 out of its own funds.

County Controller Tara Zrinski, who spoke at the event, said Northampton could look at covering those workers’ salaries via a temporary redistribution of existing county funds or take out a “Tax Anticipation Note,” which could be borrowed against property tax revenue.

Failing to seek alternative funding means “we cut our nose off to spite our face,” said Zrinski, a Democrat like McClure who is running for county executive against Republican Tom Giovanni. She said the interest needed to repay a loan “is a small price to pay for the safety of our community and the security of our workforce that knows we have their backs.”

Johnson, a Local 668 shop steward who works in human services, and fellow employee Brittany Velazquez spoke on behalf of employees during the rally, held along Emrick Boulevard, where an occasional car honk and shouts of approval could be heard from passing motorists.

“We are all social workers,” Velazquez said. “We’re supposed to be advocating for families and children, and if we’re not, this is going to affect so many people.”

The human services workers are not the only ones affected by the state budget impasse. The county on Monday notified human services vendors that payments have been suspended. Also, the county postponed its annual centenarian luncheon that had been scheduled for Thursday.

The payment delays are affecting nonprofits such as the Safe Harbor homeless shelter in Easton, according to one of its administrators who received notice Monday that state pass-through grants administered by the county will remain frozen until the budget crisis is resolved.

Recovery Partnership in Bethlehem, which has a drop-in center to support people experiencing mental illness and homelessness, is another agency affected.

“Without a state budget being passed, we have no funding to keep our programs open,” said Kristen Bertucci of Recovery Partnership, who joined others at the rally carrying banners signifying their work in the community and names of clients served.

“Coming out to support [SEIU workers] and our program staying open is important for us,” she said.

Lehigh County is not taking steps to release any workers, General Services Director Rick Molchany said earlier this week. He said county officials are looking at taking out a bridge loan to manage cash flow until state money is released.

Berger said contingencies are in place if the workers are placed on leave, but the county is exploring other options before utilizing furloughs in what McClure has called a “last resort.”

She said the county is owed more than $10 million from the state for human services.

Contact Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone at asalamone@mcall.com.

https://www.mcall.com/2025/09/26/pa-budget-northampton-county-worker-furloughs-reaction/