Five months into the state budget impasse, the number of contractors for Butler County Human Services seeking county funds to stay in business remains steady.

Joyce Ainsworth, Human Services director, said about 13 or 14 contractors have asked for assistance. The department uses about 100 contractors to provide the bulk of the services for the county’s 20,000 human services clients.

So far, human services has spent about $1.5 million to pay providers.

However, she said she anticipates more contractors asking for help in about a week, which is when a new billing cycle begins.

“I suspect we’ll be having some more,” Ainsworth said.

In Harrisburg, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and the Republican-controlled Legislature have not been able to agree on a 2015-16 state budget. July 1 was the deadline to have the spending plan in place.

Without a budget in place, no money from the state has gone to the county to pay for these services.

Ainsworth declined to name the affected providers, but she said they provide services such as mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment, residential services and group home services.

The department told its contractors earlier this year to seek lines of credit or use their reserves to stay in operation.

When the contractors are no longer able to use their reserves or have maxed out their credit, they have been told to contact the department to discuss using county money temporarily.

When the state passes a budget and the state money comes flowing again, the department will repay the county.

Leftover money from last year’s human services budget initially was used to help contractors in need. That money ran out at the beginning of October. Since then, money from the county’s general fund has been used to pay providers.

Ainsworth said she is pleased the county has only had to use $1.5 million, saying that is less than they had expected. She said the contractors have done a good job of getting credit lines and using their reserves.

“The providers have really stepped up,” Ainsworth said.

Ainsworth said the department is looking at invoices individually to see what can be paid.

The Area Agency on Aging — a human services department which is entirely funded by state money — has stopped taking new clients.

“They’re putting folks on waiting lists,” Ainsworth said, noting that clients are receiving services. She said that emergency protective services still are taking place.

She said this is the only action close to a stoppage of service that human services is experiencing.

Ainsworth said if the impasse lasts into 2016, the county will be hurt.

“We will not be able to sustain,” Ainsworth said.