Family talks about how lack of Pa. budget is hitting home

Pennsylvania has been without a state budget for more than 100 days, and worries over the effects on school and nonprofits are commonplace. One Philadelphia family shares their story of what that means to them.

North Philadelphia resident Robert Mumford’s wife is a manager for a local social service nonprofit. When the budget impasse began, he said, his family felt it directly in the pocketbook.

“They were reducing her salary by 40 percent, and it wasn’t just hers, but it was going agencywide and it was taking effect immediately — giving us no time to prepare for the financial devastation,” he said.

That included not being able to pay their rent.  Mumford said he hopes state officials realize the problems they are causing.

“I’ve called my legislator daily in September, you don’t reach anybody. You reach an operator who takes a message, and that’s it,” he said. “You don’t get a response, you don’t really hear from anyone. You don’t really get to speak to the people that matter.”