Wolf says counties will get the bill if Pa. skips tax increase

Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf is warning Pennsylvania’s county commissioners that they’ll get stuck with higher human services costs if the Republican-controlled Legislature refuses to raise taxes.

Wolf spoke Monday at a county commissioners’ association conference in Harrisburg.

The governor is seeking a tax package that includes an 11 percent income tax increase that would cost a$50,000 a-year earner an extra $165.

Top Republican lawmakers say they’re committed to dealing with the state’s deficit without raising taxes. But Wolf also told county commissioners that the state is already short-changing them on human services programs funding.

Entrenched budget gridlock has left billions of dollars in subsidies in limbo more than two-thirds into the current budget year. Some school districts are borrowing to pay staff while Penn State is threatening to close agricultural extension offices.