EASTON, Pa. – The proposed 2027 Northampton County budget was not on the agenda for Northampton County Council’s regular meeting Thursday night.
But it’s all members of the public wanted to talk about.
More than two dozen people took a turn at the microphone during the public comment portion of the meeting to share their thoughts on the proposed 43.5% property tax hike that is part of the $566 million spending plan.
They did not mince words, calling the increase, among other things, “pitiful,” “ridiculous,” “abusive,” “shameful” and “one heck of a hike.”
The meeting was County Council’s first as a full body since Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski unveiled the budget proposal on Oct. 2.
Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski has proposed a 43.5% property tax increase in the new year.
Zrinski has said increasing the property tax rate from 10.8 mills to 15.5 mills would generate about $44.5 million in additional annual county revenue.
“This budget is about taking care of what matters: the people who work for this county, the residents who depend on our services, the facilities we have put off repairing for far too long, and the promises we have made to our employees, to our retirees and to the public,” she told council.
Northampton County has not raised property taxes in 12 years; Zrinski’s predecessor, Lamont McClure, cut taxes by 1 mill in 2022.
But Zrinski says the previous administration also spent down the budgetary fund balance while leaving important fiduciary responsibilities like retiree pensions, the county contribution to Gracedale nursing home and improvements at the prison unfunded.
According to administration figures, the tax hike would cost the average Northampton County resident about $282 a year, or an extra $24 a month.
The residents who spoke on Thursday night made it clear they were not OK with it.
“We have families and seniors already stretched thin with rising costs for groceries, utility, healthcare and school taxes,” said Annemarie Robertone of Washington Township. “A massive county tax hike compounds these financial pressures when residents have no room left in their budgets.”
Some speakers who are landlords in the county noted they’ll be taking a hit across multiple properties.
“That’s going to be passed down to my tenants,” said Sal Pugliese of Palmer Township.
“You people got to learn to live within your budget and spend the money like it’s your money, not just somebody else’s,” Pugliese told council.
Beverly Hernandez, Palmer Township, shares her thoughts about the proposed 2027 budget and tax hike during public comment at Northampton County Council’s meeting on Oct. 15, 2026.
WFMZ-TV | Amy Unger
Others compared the county to a business in need of major belt-tightening.
Katherine Mack of Lehigh Township said selling the county-owned and operated Gracedale nursing home should be considered. “It seems to be a millstone around your neck for years and years,” she said. “I don’t know how you’re going to fix it.”
The 2027 budget proposal includes $12 million for Gracedale.
When it was her turn to speak Thursday night, following about an hour and a half of public comment, a visibly frustrated Zrinski turned away from council to address the crowd directly: “I want you to go home, look at the budget, and you tell me, which employees should not get raises? You tell me which services we should cut. You tell me what part of Gracedale should I sell. Should I burn down the prison?”
Some members of the crowd began shouting back, prompting Council President Ken Kraft to bang his gavel to restore order.
Later in the evening, Zrinski said she understood that the conversation about the budget, including the tax increase, would be difficult.
“I get accosted at the store when I go. I get it, it’s not welcome,” Zrinski said. “But I do think that our residents are owed the truth, and after 12 years without a county tax increase, costs have gone up, our obligations have grown, our employees have fallen behind.”
The budget is not a done deal; County Council will hold a series of public review meetings on the plan before possibly making amendments and then holding a final vote.
The meetings are scheduled for Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4 and Nov. 18. All of the meetings start at 4:30 p.m. at the Northampton County Government Center at 669 Washington St. in Easton. They are also livestreamed on YouTube.