WESTMORELAND COUNTY OFFICIALS FINALIZING PLANS TO FURLOUGH SOME WORKERS

Officials in Westmoreland County are finalizing plans to furlough some workers in an effort to cut back on costs.  Commissioners say as many as 100 county employees could be taken off the job to help deal with the lack of money coming from state leaders.  Nearly a quarter of Westmoreland County’s annual budget is covered by funds provided by the state.  Those payments are not coming in right now due to the state budget stalemate among lawmakers in Harrisburg.  Commissioner Ted Kopas says some non-union county employees will be notified of furloughs this week.  Some unionized workers could then be temporarily removed from the payroll within the next couple of weeks as well.