ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown’s budget woes continue.
During a special meeting Tuesday night, Allentown City Council was one vote short of overriding the mayor’s veto of the 2026 budget, now leaving the city without a spending plan.
Four council members — Cynthia Mota, CeCe Gerlach, Ed Zucal and Natalie Santos — voted for overriding, while the other three members — Daryl Hendricks, Santo Napoli and Candida Affa — voted against it.
Five out of seven council members would need to vote to override.
There is no default budget in the current charter, officials say, so since the override failed, the mayor’s initial budget will not go into effect, as city officials previously indicated.
Allentown now does not have an adopted 2026 budget.
The spending plan voted on by council earlier this month was vetoed by Mayor Matt Tuerk because it did not include his administration’s 3.96% property tax increase.
“I vetoed it because I don’t believe in unbalanced budgets. I don’t think we should be dipping into reserves to pay for essential expenses and services,” Tuerk previously told 69 News.
Tuerk says his administration’s proposed 3.96% increase would cost residents just over $2 more a month, and is necessary to keep the city fiscally sound.
City council members who oppose the property tax increase disagree with Tuerk’s decision.
69 News is working to learn more on what this means for the city going forward.