Letter to the editor: Bad time for big raises in Westmoreland County

Regarding the article “Westmoreland department heads earn raises for pandemic- related work” (Dec. 17, TribLIVE): The county solicitor received an $11,000 per year raise, and has seen her salary increase 70% since 2015. She is considered a part-time employee. A 70% raise over five years — that is quite an increase. In fact that’s in the realm of corporate CEOs raises. I’m sure the solicitor’s work borders on Supreme Court justice level; therefore the raise was more than warranted.

Several of my acquaintances are on the brink of fiscal collapse because of restrictions elected officials have put on certain small businesses — not all businesses, just businesses they deem in need of these restrictions. I worked in law enforcement for the commonwealth before retiring, and I remember many of my fellow employees going above and beyond and risking life and limb. Never once did they get a raise for their performance. In the late ’80s we worked for several months without a paycheck because of politicians and their inability to pass a budget.

I’m sure the people who received these raises are fine people. But to issue raises when there’s a plethora of county citizens hurting financially and mentally is, to say the least, not taking into account the plight of your constituents. But, as we’ve all seen over the last few decades, politicians aren’t the sharpest knives in the drawer.

Richard L. Bell

Ligonier Township