READING >> A short public hearing on the Berks County Human Services block grant showed that there was no question of the commissioners supporting the department and its use of the block grant pilot program.
The block grant enables the department to use state-issued funds across seven line items in its budget. Before 2012, each of the areas controlled by human services received separate funding with strict parameters. Now, officials can move funds from one area to the other when needed, as long as they report the allocation to the state.
These funds go to programs and services for mental health, intellectual disabilities, development, homeless assistance, behavioral health, drug and alcohol services and child welfare.
“This year we’re allowed 75 percent of flexibility across categoricals, and next year it is 100 percent. We don’t need to seek state approvals to move them around beyond next year, we just need to report on it,” said Edward Michalik, an administrator in the Human Services department.
Berks County is one of 30 Pennsylvania counties that are part of the block grant program. The Pennsylvania legislature has been considering expanding the option to all counties, Michalik said, but there are some challenges.
“It requires a change in legislation. There is some fear, that somehow if we open it up everywhere, commissioners will move money around to places that it shouldn’t be moved,” he said. “But not in any one of those counties in the pilot has any one board of commissioners moved the money and ignored it’s place in human services.”
Berks has used the ability to move money sparingly, but it has been a help. Last year, the department move funds from Children and Youth Services to substance abuse programs.
According to Michalik, human services funding has been slashed by close to 50 percent over the last decade. With the cuts in funding for human services, he said, having the ability to allocate the fund where they are most needed has been extremely helpful.
“We’re not proposing anything additional for next year. We’re hoping to get the same amount of money; I’m hopeful that we will get the same amount of money,” he said.
The commissioners supported the block grant program, citing the unique challenges that are faced by Berks County.
“What we’ve been able to show, at the county levels, is that county government knows much better how to spend these dollars. Not me as a commissioner, but our teams in the departments that work with the community on a daily basis, they know far better how to spend those dollars,” said Commissioner Christian Leinbach.
