Pictured from left to right: Nathan Mains, CEO, Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA); Dr. Tamara Willis, superintendent, Susquehanna Township School District; Paula Bussard, board president, Carlisle Area School District; Kyle Kopko, Ph.D., J.D., executive director, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP); Annie Strite, administrator, Cumberland/Perry MH/IDD; Sherene Hess, Indiana County Commissioner; president, County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP)
Today, the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) and the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) held a joint press conference at the State Capitol to spotlight the growing crisis caused by the delayed state budget.
Local leaders from across the commonwealth gathered to share firsthand accounts of how the impasse is straining public schools and county governments. Both sectors are facing mounting financial pressure, forced borrowing and difficult decisions that directly impact students, families and vulnerable populations.
“Today’s event made one thing clear: the budget delay is not just a political issue—it’s a community crisis,” said Nathan Mains, PSBA CEO. “School districts are struggling to plan for the academic year, and counties are being pushed to the brink of service reductions and layoffs.”
Speakers from both organizations emphasized the urgency of the situation:
School districts are operating without a complete revenue picture, making it difficult to hire staff, purchase curriculum and maintain infrastructure. Many are already borrowing to cover mandated expenses, placing additional burdens on local taxpayers.
Counties are rapidly depleting reserves and incurring steep interest costs to maintain essential services such as child welfare, behavioral health, housing and public safety. Some counties are facing borrowing costs in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The press conference served as a unified call to action for the General Assembly to resolve the impasse and provide immediate relief. Both PSBA and CCAP also urged lawmakers to consider long-term reforms that would reduce the impact of future delays.
“We cannot afford to let history repeat itself,” said CCAP Executive Director Kyle Kopko. “The damage from past budget impasses still lingers—and this time, the stakes are even higher.”
