Westmoreland County leaders are breathing a sigh of relief as Gov. Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers approved a state budget , sending state funds back to individual counties for the first time in months.

"I'm actually elated that we finally have a state budget and a federal budget being passed," Westmoreland County Commissioner Douglas Chew said. "I definitely feel a lot of relief that this is over."

Westmoreland County hasn't received state funding in the 135 days of the budget impasse.

"Westmoreland County has had to furlough about 125 people," Chew said. "We have had to slow down payments to vendors in the big human service area."

Had the shutdown continued, he said, more people could have been furloughed.

"We didn't want to do any of those things," Chew said. "And so it's great

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