HARRISBURG, February 3 – United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP) and its partners released a statement signed by over 100 Pennsylvania civic leaders urging the passage of a fair and responsible budget by the end of June. The statement to the Governor and all members of the General Assembly comes less than one week away from the Governor’s Budget Address, which marks the kickoff of the 2010 budget season. Pennsylvania was the last state in the nation to adopt a General Fund budget in 2009.

“The 2009 budget impasse caused ‘real pain’ on Pennsylvania ’s nonprofit organizations,” said UWP President Tony Ross. “ No Pennsylvanian was untouched by the impasse, including: children unable to enroll in preschool; seniors losing access to meals and services; food banks running out of food; underpaid, nonprofit employees facing pay cuts or layoffs; and nonprofits delaying payments to vendors.”

Others highlighted the “real pain” of the impasse in Adams County , Carlisle, and Harrisburg , while discussing the potential consequences of another budget impasse in 2010. 

Speakers included Tina Nixon, the Executive Director of the Harrisburg YWCA; Christopher Rockey, the Vice President of PNC Bank Community Development Banking; Jeff Conway, the Executive Director of the United Way of Carlisle and Cumberland County ; and Dr. Michael Gibbons, a Professor at Gettysburg College .

“In many ways, it was the worst possible scenario – private fundraising was a struggle, government support decreased, but need was growing,” according to Harrisburg ’s YWCA Executive Director Tina Nixon.

Dr. Gibbons and his students conducted a study to examine the impact of the impasse on Adams County charities. The study notes that organizations deployed a variety of tactics to survive the funding delay, including laying off workers, shutting down less vital programs, extending their business credit, securing loans and aid from local businesses and organizations, and petitioning for help from community citizens.

The letter to the Governor and legislature also encouraged a state budget for Fiscal Year 2010-11 that adequately invests in Pennsylvania ’s health and human services system. The letter points out that the Commonwealth is experiencing the most difficult economic climate in this generation. As a result, there is an increased need for services such as homeless shelters, veterans’ assistance programs, child care and support for the elderly. 

Funding for these and other important initiatives has been shrinking for years, and underfunding impedes the ability of state investments to be productive. Moving forward, sufficient investment is required to ensure agencies will be able to continue their social services both this year and in years to come. 

“As civic leaders in our Commonwealth, we are speaking out in a proactive manner to strongly encourage current and future Pennsylvania leaders to adopt state budget policies that strengthen the nonprofit sector, which will improve the quality of life for all,” said Mr. Ross. 

“Organizations had sufficient monetary reserves to weather the storm in 2009,” noted Mr. Conway. “This year, those reserves are gone or severely depleted for most groups.” 

UWP will soon be releasing the results of a statewide survey highlighting specific effects of the 2009 budget impasse in various communities. Ross also provided an update on upcoming nonprofit forums with the gubernatorial candidates, including one at the Harrisburg Hilton on February 24^th.  Bipartisan invitations were extended to all announced candidates.  Confirmed participants include Jack Wagner, Dan Onorato, and Chris Doherty.  

The United Way system across Pennsylvania represents more than half a million individual and corporate donors who support initiatives to improve education, financial stability and the ability to connect people to services through prevention, education and early intervention.