Westmoreland County, which will furlough 125 of its 1,600 employees on Tuesday because of the state budget debacle, is one of six Pennsylvania counties in the process of seeking a loan under a new program run by state Treasurer Stacy Garrity, according to county and treasury officials.

Billions of dollars in state payments to counties and other organizations have stopped flowing because political leaders in Harrisburg have been unable to agree on a budget for a 2025-26 fiscal year that is now 105 days old. Besides the six counties, other entities that are in the process of seeking loans under the program include 39 Pre-K counts programs, 15 Head Start programs and two rape crisis and domestic violence centers, according to Deputy Treasurer for Communications Steve Chizmar.

But some Democ

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