FORTY FORT -- The effect of five months without a state budget is being felt by some businesses in Luzerne County, as the budget impasse is putting services to the elderly in jeopardy.
Small businesses that provide caregiving services to seniors in Luzerne County have not received any state money since June because of the budget stalemate. And after five months, some of these businesses say they aren't sure how much longer they can go without the state money.
The owner of Associated Family Care in Forty Fort told us she has drained her savings to pay employees over the last five months, and she isn't sure where next week's payroll is going to come from.
She cannot imagine having to stop servicing seniors who depend on her caregivers.
"I can't even explain it to you," said Lynn Ziebro. "Sleepless nights, constant worry, constantly reading the paper or on the computer to see if there (are) updates. It's awful."
Ziebro has owned Associated Family Care for more than 20 years. She provides caregivers for seniors with Alzheimer's or disabilities.
About half of her more than 50 clients are funded with state money through the Area Agency on Aging.
But since lawmakers and the governor could not reach a budget agreement by June 30, the state money stopped and the agency ran out of money to pay its nearly 80 vendors, including Ziebro.
She's used up all of her savings to continue paying her caregivers and Ziebro isn't sure where the money for next week's payroll will come from.
"We've cleared everything. There is nothing left, nothing! We have not been paid since June. "
Lucy Drapiewski and Catherine Nesler own Home Sweet Home Personal Care in Kingston. They were hopeful when state officials stayed in Harrisburg over the weekend, but issues over a state sales tax prevented a budget agreement this weekend.
"It was frustration. It was sadness," said Nesler. "It was, 'how long can we continue to do this? How long can they continue to do this?'"
Home Sweet Home will have to take out a loan to continue helping the seniors in need in Luzerne County.
"We have gone to the bank for an increase in a line of credit and we are waiting on that. This week we should hear about that because if this extends any longer, we will be in trouble," Drapiewski said. "This is impacting so many, many people, at their basic needs. We are talking feeding them breakfast, feeding them lunch, making sure they're clean and well cared for. This is a human thing."
We reached out to state representatives for a comment on the budget and how it has been affecting people here. None were able to get back to us.
All the representatives we reached out to are in Harrisburg, hopefully a step closer to ending this budget impasse.