Westmoreland commissioners on Monday postponed a vote to approve a preliminary 2021 operating budget until next week to allow county staff additional time to count remaining ballots cast in the November election.

Officials said the processes to review and count ballots cast during the November election has taken longer than expected and, with the Nov. 23 deadline to certify results fast approaching, there isn’t enough time or space available this week at the courthouse to conduct routine county meetings.

As a result, commissioners will conduct a public agenda session on Nov. 23 in their courthouse conference room to discuss items up for consideration. A day later, on Nov. 24, the public voting session will be convened in courtroom No. 6.

Commissioners routinely conduct their voting sessions in a public conference room just off the courthouse lobby. That room is currently occupied by bipartisan volunteer boards reviewing provisional ballots and counting equipment.

Commissioners said the 2021 budget will be presented at the rescheduled public meeting on Nov. 24.

It will be the first budget for the current board of commissioners, which took office in January.

The county’s current $341 million spending plan was approved last December by the outgoing board of commissioners and included a 2.4% property tax increase. Commissioners have not disclosed if a tax hike is planned for the 2021 budget.

A final budget is set for approval on Dec. 17.

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