— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Northampton County Executive Lamont G. McClure presented a 2025 budget today that does not raise property taxes.
The tax rate, if the budget is approved, will remain at 10.8 mills, or $540 for a property assessed at $50,000.
The total proposed operating budget is just under a half-billion dollars, at $499.5 million, down from $549.5 million this year.
The 2025 budget includes $3 million to protect green space. That is part of the “McClure Doctrine” that warehouse development is best fended off by owning property or easements on property.
“In my tenure as county executive, we will have invested over $21 million in open spaces” by the end of 2025, McClure said today at the government center in Easton.
McClure also renewed his pitch for an employee health center, which he contends will help county workers and keep medical costs lower. He also advocated for keeping the Gracedale nursing home in Upper Nazareth Township a county property, and said Gracedale will not need a country contribution.
The Executive said his budget balances county services and the burden on taxpayers.
“We have cut spending by 9% in the 2025 budget while maintaining county services,” he said.
Six of his seven spending plans have kept taxes unchanged, and one reduced the property tax.
The budget address is available on the county’s YouTube channel.
County Council will review the budget during five hearings, each held at 4:30 p.m. in council chambers.
Council has the final say on spending, but the Executive has the upper hand in setting budgets based on the Northampton County’s Home Rule Charter. Also, McClure has a financial staff, including Director of Fiscal Affairs Stephen J. Barron Jr.
As Barron noted today, the county’s budget must be balanced. To do that, the county does budget the use of some reserve funds in 2025.
Barron also noted that prices have gone up.
“Inflation is very real,” Barron said, adding that his staff has sought to increase efficiency and cut costs.
The hearings:
Oct. 9: General government
Oct. 23: Department of Community and Economic Development, Public Works, Capital Projects and Capital Improvement Plans
Nov. 6: Court System and Corrections
Nov. 13: Human Services
Nov. 26: Budget Amendments
Last year, McClure presented a $582.5 million spending plan for 2024. His proposal was approved by council with minor changes.
The 2025 budget is “paperless,” that is, not printed. It is available to the public on the county website.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 
“said Gracedale will not need a country contribution.”
Wishful thinking. He said the same thing about the 2023 budget and the actual county contribution was $14.94 million. He said it again about the 2024 budget and is now projecting a $4.8 million county contribution. Take the over on that number. Additionally, there is no longer a fund balance nor COVID relief funds to fill the gap. Ignore the political rhetoric and look for a significant contribution in 2025.
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