County Department Of Human Services Braces For Cuts In Funding

The Allegheny County Department of Human Services is bracing for cuts in funding as a result of decreased revenues and a budget shortfall in Pennsylvania. Director of the Department Marc Cherna says there is no way to tell yet how large a funding cut they will see but he is trying to prepare the department for cutbacks in services. Cherna said that since most of their programs are contracted out, the department will most likely have to reduce or cut contracts. Cherna says even though the state may be saving money initially, the cutbacks will cost taxpayers more when specialized services are required because the department was not able to help someone they normally would have been able to help. He says the bottom line is that some people getting services this year will not be helped in 2010.