In the spirit of the Trump administration’s mass firings of government employees, in its reported attempt to reduce waste and save taxpayers money, let’s direct our attention locally. What is Westmoreland County doing to reduce waste and cut spending?
In 2024, the county commissioners approved a 32.5% property tax increase and in 2022 gave themselves pay hikes of 17%. This while the register of wills, Sherry Hamilton, was failing to show up for work regularly and managing her department inadequately. Who is in charge of ensuring fiscal and responsibility accountability in county offices? The county commissioners? The county controller?
I’m not sure why exactly we have three county commissioners — with salaries over $95,000. Other areas are moving to a one-manager system. What are they doing within their own department to ensure fiscal responsibility? Should they take a cue from the federal government and look for ways to reduce staffing and cut waste? Maybe this would help to prevent substantial tax increases .
The county controller, the “fiscal watchdog,” has a staff of 28. Westmoreland is classified as a third-class county. By comparison, third-class county Erie has four, Lackawanna nine, York 14, Cumberland 14 and Lehigh eight, with one part-timer. In 2023 it was reported that the Westmoreland controller’s salary was $80,245, and I’m sure it has increased since then. How much waste can be eliminated in that department?
I think it’s time we Westmoreland County voters look where our tax dollars are going, and maybe vote for candidates who have reputations for fiscal responsibility.
Joann Cannon
New Alexandria