Port Allegany Online News

SMETHPORT—McKean County Children and Youth Services (CYS) will need $172,939 in McKean County money in fiscal 2011-2012, the agency learned last month, as it was readying its budgets and plans for the coming service period. This is about $60,000 more than had been anticipated, based on calculations made this past March.

As of March, information from the state, indicating what funding would be available from federal and state sources, in various categories, showed that the $4,797,034 budget would require $112,699 in “non-reimbursable” (local) funds.

As the state budget discussions dragged on in the legislature, various adjustments were made and remade. Even after budget adoption, the effects on each program were not clear for some time.

The agency budget projections show that spending for in-home and intake services will be $2,133,367. Community-based placement (basically, foster care) will cost $2,027,482. Institutional Placement costs are expected to be $123,081. Administration costs are shown as $513,104.

Revenues will include $2,727,381 in Act 148 funds, $44,351 in Title XX money, and a blend of other federal and state funding to meet budget needs up within $172,939 of the $4,797,034, which falls to the county to supply.

Duane Wolfe, agency director, points out that CYS and the county have no control over the demands for its surfaces in any given period. Planning is based on past experience, but sometimes there are more families or children needing services, or more special services are needed, than had been the case in the “average” year. Nevertheless, the services are mandated to be provided as needed.

State funding was trimmed more on some categories than had been forecast earlier in the year. The added demand on the county coffers will present some budgetary stress for the county commissioners.

Wolfe and his staff had prepared information to be provided at three public meetings which were held Thursday morning between 9 a.m. and noon. As has been the case in most years, the meetings, designed for public information and public input, were not attended by the public, although a reporter was on hand. Information can still be requested by the public and input provided in written form.

The meetings were about the CYS needs-based budget, the Human Services Development Fund, and the Integrated Children’s Service Plan.

Dr. Hongye Li has joined Charles Cole Memorial Hospital’s pediatric staff at its offices in Coudersport and Emporium where she will work with Dr. Mary Ann Rigas, Dr. Marlene Wust-Smith, and physician assistants Korin Trumpie and Kathy Fragale.

After completing her medical education, including a fellowship in pediatric nephrology in China, she has worked as a nephrology research scientist at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She completed pediatric residencies at Richmond University Medical Center in NY.

Throughout her career, she has written numerous articles and conducted numerous studies for which she’s earned awards. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Book Sale To Benefit Port Allegany Library

The Friends of the (S. W. Smith) Library will hold a book sale this Saturday (August 20) in Port Allegany, to benefit the summer reading program. Hours of the sale are 10:00am to 2:00pm, with the sale taking place under the tent on Church Street.

A general meeting will also be held at this time. Those interested are invited to attend.

Rapp Seeks Local Testifiers for Upcoming House Finance Committee Hearing on Marcellus Shale Drilling Impact Fee

Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-Warren/Forest/McKean) will co-chair a House Finance Committee informational hearing regarding Marcellus Shale impact fee proposals in September.

Additionally, Rapp is searching for a limited number of local residents willing to provide testimony on whether they would support or oppose an impact fee on Marcellus Shale drilling.

“As a lawmaker who unapologetically voted against legislation to impose the largest job-killing, natural gas severance tax in American history, most District 65 residents already know where I stand on this issue,” said Rapp. “Regardless of an individual position, this informational hearing will provide an ideal opportunity to make one’s voice heard before the House Finance Committee which is responsible for all state tax legislation, including personal income taxes, school property taxes and, most recently, proposals to tax or impose impact fees on the drilling of Marcellus Shale natural gas.”

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 13, and will be held at the Warren Holiday Inn, beginning at 10 a.m. Anyone interested in testifying should contact Rapp’s Warren district office at (814) 723-5203 for more information.

For the latest legislative updates, visit RepRapp.com.