WESTMORELAND COUNTY OFFICIALS SAY BUDGET IMPASSE WON’T IMMEDIATELY RESOLVE COUNTY’S FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS

While the new state budget is a relief for the county, officials are saying that it will not immediately resolve the county’s financial hardships.  The Trib reports that Commissioner Sean Kertes said the impact of the four-month long state budget impasse will be felt for the next 24 months in the county.  Commissioners had to institute several cost-saving measures including partial facility closings at county parks, a hiring freeze, limits on overtime and purchases and the furlough of 125 county employees in October.  The furloughed workers will likely remain off until the end of the year, and Kertes said it’s unclear when the rest of the measures will be reversed.