ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners adopted the 2027 county budget Wednesday night at the government center. The budget offers a 16.7% tax increase on property owners.
Executive Joshua Siegel’s original spending plan featured a 17.7% tax increase. This translated to a millage rate hike from 3.78 to 4.45.
Commissioners then offered about $1.4 million in reductions on the budget’s first reading Oct. 14, lowering the millage rate increase from the proposed 4.45 to 4.41, or by about 1%.
Various amendments were approved that evening, including cutting a proposed chief of staff position where the individual would receive a $133,020 in salary and benefits. A second amendment eliminated a proposed communications director position paying the person $129,409 in salary and benefits. A third amendment cut a proposed entitled “clean election grant initiative” which would have allocated $500,000 in taxpayer money to fund political campaigns.
Lehigh County’s initial 2027 budget with a nearly 17% tax hike will go to a second reading on Oct. 28.
Two proposed amendments Wednesday night would have further reduced the millage rate increase proposed by the executive and the amended Oct. 14 version.
The first, offered by Commissioner Antonio Pineda, would have sent the proposed 2027 budget back to Siegel for resubmission with a 3.78 millage rate, which would offer property owners no tax increase. The motion was rejected.
The second, offered by Commissioner Sarah Fevig, would have sent the proposed 2027 budget back to Siegel for resubmission with a 4.31 millage rate, which would offer property owners a 14% tax increase. That motion was also rejected.
Siegel said the “sticker shock” of this year’s tax hike was the result of failing gradually over the years to raise taxes. He portrayed the tax increase as the responsible action.
Chairman Geoff Brace said he was not comfortable reducing the tax increase beyond the amended version’s reductions, saying it could comprise essential county services.
Commissioner Dan Hartzell said he would not vote for either amendment offered Wednesday night, largely under the premise commissioners should designate the proposed reductions, not the executive.
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