Some furloughed workers recalled as commissioners weigh additional returns

Human Resources Director Amanda Bernard confirmed that, as of Tuesday, 50 furloughed employees have returned to work and five have resigned or retired.

By RICH CHOLODOFSKY
TribLive

More than a third of the Westmoreland County employees furloughed in October have returned to work, commissioners said Tuesday.

“More are scheduled to come back next month,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes.

Cash flow issues that resulted from a four-month state budget impasse and a subsequent freeze on allocations for mandated social service programs led commissioners this fall to temporarily remove 125 full- and part-time staffers from the payroll.

Human Resources Director Amanda Bernard confirmed that, as of Tuesday, 50 furloughed employees have returned to work and five have resigned or retired. Another 70 employees continue to be off the job.

According to data released by the commissioners in October, 31 employees were furloughed from the county’s human services departments, such as behavioral health, aging and the children’s bureau.

The remaining furloughed staff included 12 public works employees, 10 from parks and recreation, 12 from court operations, three from 911 and 10 from the coroner’s office, including nine part-time deputies.

Commissioners initially said they anticipated the furloughs would save the county about $100,000 in payroll expenses every two weeks. Bernard said payroll savings attributed to the furloughs have reached nearly $720,000.

Commissioner Ted Kopas said those savings justified the furloughs.

“As painful as it was, it was absolutely necessary,” Kopas said of the furloughs.

Kertes previously said the savings from furloughs were substantially less, reaching just $30,000, a figure Bernard clarified Tuesday that reflected the county’s cost-containment efforts that included a hiring freeze, cessation of overtime and a halt to purchases.

Though state allocations are still funneling into the county’s coffers, the austerity measures are required to remain in force. Furloughed staff, however, are slowly returning to work throughout the government, including workers in row offices, court administration, and parks and road crews.

Public Works Director Dante DeCario said the county road crew, which saw half of its roster furloughed, was fully staffed as of last week. This enabled all eight workers to be called out to clear the 52 miles of county roads during the weekend winter storm.

Three of the four furloughed staffers from the commissioners’ offices were among the recalled workers.

Commissioners have yet to commit to recalling all remaining workers still on furlough.

County finances could dictate that decision.

Commissioners on Thursday are expected to approve a 2026 budget that will keep property taxes at their current level while also reducing a projected $30 million deficit. Layoffs were among the options being considered to reduce spending.

Kertes said the decision to recall workers will be made with the county’s financial outlook in mind.

“We need to make sure our offices are staffed as best as possible, and that could include vacant positions we’re looking at not filling,” Kertes said.

Kopas suggested that recalling all furloughed workers would not be fiscally responsible. He said he’s in favor of bringing back workers assigned to public safety, Westmoreland Manor and other essential services.

“I’m not in favor of blindly bringing everyone back. This gives us an opportunity to review all those positions,” Kopas said.