Westmoreland County to furlough staff, partially close parks as Pa. budget impasse continues

Westmoreland commissioners said employees will be furloughed in two weeks and the county parks will partially close in early October as a result of the ongoing state budget impasse.

Commissioners on Thursday instructed department heads to make recommendations for a temporary job reduction plan as part of continued cost-savings efforts. County officials say the move is necessary to counteract steep financial losses resulting from the state budget stalemate.

The state budget has been adopted by the statutory June 30 deadline just eight times in the past 21 years.

“We don’t yet know how many employees will be furloughed because we still have to provide resources,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes.

Furlough notices are expected to go out next week.

Officials from the Service Employees International Union Local 668, Westmoreland County’s largest bargaining unit, did not return a request for comment Thursday.

The county has received no state funding since the expiration of the commonwealth’s budget at the end of June. It borrowed $31 million from its general operating fund to cover lost revenue to continue operations of mandated social service and public safety programs. Last week county leaders instituted a series of austerity cuts such as the institution of a hiring freeze and a halt to overtime.

Commissioners said furloughs, which are expected to last at least one month, will enable the county to continue to operate required services.

“We’re not looking forward to this, but we have to be able to pay the bills and participate in required services on a daily basis,” said Commissioner Doug Chew.

Commissioner Ted Kopas said blame for the county’s financial struggles falls on state lawmakers for failing to pass a spending plan.

“It’s unfortunate, but absolutely necessary,” Kopas said of the furloughs. “Legislative inaction is hurting people and their families.”

Officials said essential county functions will continue.

Courts will operate uninterrupted, said President Judge Christopher Feliciani.

“We came up with a plan that will include some individuals who could be furloughed and intend to do our part because we recognized it is a crisis,” Feliciani said.

Commissioners in April 2020 furloughed about 500 county employees during the early days of the covid pandemic. A majority of those workers remained off the job for months before they returned to the county payroll near the end of 2020 and into 2021.

Officials said the lack of funds caused by the state budget impasse will result in limited access access to its park system starting Oct. 6. Commissioners said there will be reduced availability of bathrooms and other facilities, cutbacks to maintenance and cancellation of the county’s popular Halloween Hobgoblin Hikes at Twin Lakes and Cedar Creek parks.

Pavilion rentals will continued to be honored for at least the next month.

“If this (impasse) goes on, we’ll move into phase two, when we’ll shut them down and close the (park) gates,” Kertes said.

County human services, which relies on $80 million in state allocations, notified service providers in late August that payments could be halted starting in October. Human services — including aging programs, child welfare and behavioral health — accounts for about one-third of the county’s $452 million annual budget.

Commissioners previously said additional financial moves under consideration include borrowing money and the sale of county property.

Controller Jeffrey Balzer called on commissioners to file a lawsuit against the state seeking damages for lost revenue related to the budget impasse.

Balzer says the county has lost out on revenue that was to be generated through investments. Officials said monthly interest payments totaling nearly $400,000 so far have been forfeited because of the lack of state funds flowing into county coffers.

“The constitution of Pennsylvania makes it plain, the legislature must fund government,” Balzer said. “Their failure has caused measurable financial harm to counties. It is time to seek redress in court and demand that the commonwealth reimburse counties for the damages caused by this negligence.”

Commissioners said a lawsuit could be considered.

Other counties have recently enacted cost-saving measures. On Thursday, Allegheny County announced freezes on hiring and spending amid its financial struggles related to the lack of a state budget.