Editorial: Public input needed on Westmoreland County's federal pandemic funding

When it comes to major expenditures by a government, the people get to have a voice in the decisions.

This happens all the time as a matter of simple procedure. While the people elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf, placing the major spending questions out in the open is part of the process.

The most simple example is a budget. Whether a 200-person municipality or a school district that represents thousands or a county that represents even more, the budget process is conducted openly. There are planning meetings and public comment. When the budget is done, it isn’t automatically passed. It’s just tentative while it sits for weeks, available for review by the people before a final approval.

When massive projects are on the table, there is a similar process. A prison, a school or a park can’t just happen without the people having an opportunity to speak out at a public meeting, review plans or suggest reductions. It doesn’t always mean anything changes, but it is always supposed to happen in the bright light of public scrutiny.

So why can’t the Westmoreland County Commissioners ask for input on the windfall they have received via pandemic funding?

The county has $105.3 million in federal money on the table thanks to the American Rescue Plan. No steps have been taken to take notes from the community about how to spend it.

Other counties are doing so. Pittsburgh had two public hearings over how to spend its $335 million. Montgomery County outside of Philadelphia has a website to get suggestions for its $161 million.

“By listening to our residents, community partners, researching best practices and leveraging other resources, we will create impactful initiatives, investments and infrastructure improvements that will have long-term, measurable and sustainable impact,” Montgomery County Commissioners Chair Val Arkoosh said.

Westmoreland has a lot of significant issues that could be addressed with that money. There is the opioid crisis. There are the various recommendations in the comprehensive plan passed in 2018. There could be a concerted effort to bolster the broadband infrastructure.

The commissioners also rejected the idea of a health department in 2020 because of its cost. Yet $105 million seems like enough money to address that concern.

By not having some kind of meeting or survey or website to put these or other options in front of the people, the commissioners do not have an adequate idea of what the people’s priorities for such an investment could be — and they should.