WELCOME
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve the residents of Westmoreland County since 1996. Through this web site, I have promoted my vision for our county and tried to better understand your concerns. Working together, we have promoted a proactive, fiscally responsible agenda of growth, service, and safety. The challenge of building on our success continues.

Please visit the news section to learn more about Westmoreland County government and my  perspective about the many challenges we face. In the politics section, I discuss current issues from the local level up to the national political scene. The views section contains the monthly articles I write for the weekly papers.

I welcome your opinion on the important issues facing Westmoreland County, as well as our state, nation, and world. To facilitate the discussion, please visit my polls page. Please e-mail me with your questions, concerns, and ideas. I hope you enjoy the site, and find it both informative and entertaining.

COUNTY NEWS -- December 17, 2008
Commissioner Balya Donates $3,500 to County Charities and Vocational Schools -- Continuing a holiday tradition he began in 1996, Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Balya today announced $250 donations to 14 nonprofit charitable organizations and vocational technical schools in Westmoreland County.

THE PEOPLE WE MEET
New on the photographs page, April 14, 2009, you'll find a picture of Tom with Stephanie Kokoska after presenting her with a $250 scholarship funded through the Commission charity. Go there by clicking on the picture in this section.

THOUGHTS ON A COOL SUMMER DAY
Finally, after months and months of delays, Senator Al Franken from the great state of Minnesota will finally be seated in the U.S. Senate. Then...With all the important issues facing, the Senate Judiciary Committee is still finding the time to conduct hearings on the college football Bowl Championship Series. So is it my imagination or are the Republicans getting more and more shrill everyday? The biggest lie being perpetrated on the American public is the healthcare debate. Think about it. Click on the icon in this section to read more.

FEELING THE SQUEEZE
The relationship between county governments, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the federal government is a complex one where counties primarily implement the services mandated by state and federal law. For the most part the public is well-served, as counties, over time, have developed the ability to manage their mandated responsibilities. However, there are occasions when the higher levels of government put counties in the difficult position of assuming costs they shouldn't have to bear. Click on the icon in this section to read more.