During the six month state budget impasse when no money was flowing from Harrisburg to Pennsylvania's 67 counties, county commissioners sometimes complained that state lawmakers didn't understand the needs of counties and that included the responsibilities counties are mandated to perform.
Gov. Tom Wolf signed a partial state budget in late December that got some money moving. However, at the same time, he used his line-item veto power to blue line some $7 billion of the state spending plan sent to him by the House and Senate where Republicans hold majorities.
Even without a complete budget for the current fiscal year, the governor proposes next year's budget Tuesday.
Counties will be watching closely. At the same time, counties have listed their priorities for 2016.
They include budget and human service funding from the state as well as diversifying counties' tax bases and improving the child welfare system.
Monday's Smart Talk focuses on county priorities with Doug Hill the Executive Director and Franklin County Commissioner Bob Thomas, the president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania.