Human‑services workers urge Northampton County council to avert furloughs as state, federal funding stalls

At the Oct. 16 Northampton County Council meeting, current and former human‑services employees, union representatives and residents urged council members to prevent furloughs that county staff say would begin as early as Oct. 20 unless state and federal reimbursements arrive.

Child‑protective‑services caseworker Oscar Collazo told the council the workforce is “very proud of the work we do every day to protect children, support families, and keep the community strong. However, right now, that work is at risk because of political gridlock in Harrisburg and Washington.” Several other speakers said staff have been given only seven days’ notice in the event of furloughs and described the personal and operational stress that creates.

Union representatives and employees said the positions targeted are not optional operations but essential services that include caseworkers, clerical staff, supervisors, therapists, and providers for aging services. SEIU Local 668 President Steve Katniss said the county had issued the union a notice of potential furloughs and that, in his view, other counties had used different approaches such as short‑term borrowing to avoid mass furloughs.

County Executive Lamont McClure responded that he would not rescind the 30‑day notice but said his office presently expects not to implement the furloughs through the end of the year. "I will not [rescind the notice]," McClure said, adding, "based on our cash position today, we should not need to implement furloughs through the end of this year." He cited uncertainty about unexpected bills arriving before year‑end as the reason the notice had been left in place.

Council members and the union pressed McClure on alternatives, including a tax‑anticipation note or short‑term loan to cover payroll until state reimbursements arrive. McClure said the county had applied to the Pennsylvania Treasury for an interest‑free loan program and would accept $10 million if approved; he also said the state senate had passed language that could allow the treasurer to waive interest on such loans, pending further House action. He said it was plausible the treasury could authorize an interest‑free loan but that the treasury initially told county staff it lacked statutory authority to waive interest until the senate bill passed.

Speakers and union leaders urged council members to make public statements and use their offices to lobby Harrisburg and Washington lawmakers to release owed funds. Employees said the uncertainty—seven‑day notices, occasional pay interruptions affecting childcare and bills, and the risk of losing health insurance—was damaging morale and could impair service delivery to residents in crisis. "We are there to protect lives and we are there to protect the county," said Kezi ("Kesey") Johnson, a human‑services worker and union steward, describing the daily workload that would be at risk.

Council did not take a formal vote or rescind the notice at the meeting. The meeting record shows no enacted furloughs; McClure said the county will exhaust other options before implementing furloughs and that, if a seven‑day notice is issued, the council would hold an emergency meeting to consider next steps.

Why it matters: Northampton County’s human‑services departments deliver services that include child welfare, aging supports, early intervention, crisis intervention, and behavioral‑health referrals. A countywide pause in staff availability would affect callers in crisis, clients receiving therapies and reimbursements to community providers, and other safety‑net functions that county staff described as time‑sensitive and not easily paused.

What’s next: Employees and union leaders said they would continue outreach to the council and state elected officials. The county executive said he would send the county’s letter to the state treasurer about the interest‑free loan and provide an executive summary of the treasurer’s response to council members.