Journalist Roundtable: Counties Consider Borrowing to Cover Expenses Amid Pennsylvania Budget Impasse

• Asia Tabb
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Asia Tabb is the Host and Producer for WITF’s The Spark.
  
  She began her start in radio when she joined legendary radio/ host producer, Doc Christian. She worked closely with Doc for her role on “The Gospel Express, on WHOV 88.1 FM and was a host for “Unrestricted Praise” at Praise FM.
  
  Previously she was an anchor in Shreveport, Louisiana at KTAL/KMSS. Asia also worked as a Multi-Media Journalist at WHP-TV here in Harrisburg, PA.
  
  Asia got her break into news at KTVO in Ottumwa, Ia. While the 2020 caucuses were gearing up. Asia followed many candidates through their campaign trail from Senator Cory Booker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and 46th President of the United States Joe Biden.
  
  Asia was born and raised in Norfolk, Va. She graduated from Old Dominion University in 2018 with a major in Communications.
  
  Asia is extremely friendly so don’t be afraid to say hi if you see her out and about.

 AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File

FILE - Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives attend a session at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., June 29, 2023. Work by lawmakers to complete a new budget is on track to blow into the new fiscal year, with Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and top lawmakers still expressing optimism Thursday, June 27, 2024, that closed-door talks are yielding progress, despite the missed deadline.

AIRED; October 3, 2025

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As Pennsylvania enters its fourth month without a state budget, at least six counties are exploring lines of credit to cover essential services, according to Spotlight PA reporters Katie Meyer and Stephen Caruso.

“Counties are required to provide services like mental health care, child abuse prevention, foster care, and addiction treatment,” Caruso explained. “Those services don’t stop because Harrisburg lawmakers haven’t agreed to a budget. If counties run out of money, their only option may be to borrow from a bank — and that cost, including interest, falls on taxpayers.”

Lawmakers are aware of the financial strain on counties and nonprofits, Meyer added. “Passing a budget, or even a partial one, would release this money. But we’re in one of the worst standoffs in recent years. The longer it goes on, the harder decisions counties will face, and schools and nonprofits also go unpaid during this impasse.”

The state has faced similar budget deadlocks in the past — under former Governor Tom Wolf, an impasse lasted nine months. With no resolution yet, counties are preparing for the possibility that the current stalemate could stretch even longer.