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Balya Donates Pay Raise
Posted 12-22-1999
Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Balya continued his annual pledge to
donate the 15% pay increase he received in 1996 by giving back $3,500 to
Westmoreland County non-profit organizations, and vocational technical
schools this year.
Using the Community
Foundation of Westmoreland County to handle the funds, the $250 checks were
distributed to various organizations in the community that provide valuable
services to the Citizens of Westmoreland County.
The vocational and business
schools that received the grants, have set up scholarships for their
students based on criteria that each school has adopted.
"In 1996 I voted against a
15% pay increase for County elected officials. My colleagues voted for it;
therefore, I automatically received it. At that time, I pledged to donate
that raise back to the community, instead of the General Fund of the county
budget," said Balya.
"These grants will assist in
helping individuals continue to receive services from organizations that are
often struggling to raise funds, and also help students in our communities
become assets to the county workforce.
The following is list of
grant recipients: St. Vincent DePaul Conference of Cathedral, Westmoreland
AIDS Service Organization, Toys for Tots, PA CleanWays, Bethlehem Project,
Parentwise Inc., Westmoreland County Food Bank, Eastern Westmoreland Area
Vocational-Technical School, Douglas School of Business, Northern
Westmoreland Career & Technology Center, Union Mission, Central Westmoreland
Career & Technology Center, Laurel Valley Roller Hockey League, and the
Humane Society of Westmoreland County. |
