Oct. 22, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski is taking a lot of heat for her proposed 44% increase in property taxes and County Council is getting ready to try to cut some of the spending.
The two sides, administration and legislators, might agree on chopping the county contribution to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
The LVPC is the planning agency for Lehigh and Northampton counties. The Executive’s budget includes lots of increases but for the LVPC, a big cut, from $990,000 this year to $625,000.
At least two members of Council are all-in on cutting money to the LVPC. I expect more to join them, but how far will they go? Lehigh County is also reviewing its contribution.
Former Executive Lamont G. McClure Jr. criticized the organization often, complaining about salaries, staffing and the LVPC’s move from near the county line to the Allentown waterfront. He and others have blamed the LVPC for the region becoming “Warehouse Valley.” The Commission does not market the region to businesses but it does try to guide development.
The LVPC will face Council next week at the second budget hearing, scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the county government center in Easton.
A county is required to have a planning agency, but Northampton County could form its own. The LVPC is in most cases an advisory body that makes recommendations on land use. It makes final planning decisions for a few small boroughs.
Here’s what the organization does, according to the county budget (see page 24):
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) is a bi-county board formed to conduct planning for regional land use, transportation, recreation, economic development, stormwater management, and environmental impact studies. The
37-member board consists of 19 elected officials from Northampton and Lehigh Counties as well as 18 private citizens,
nine from each county. Funding is provided by various federal and state agencies along with Northampton and Lehigh
Counties.
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The LVPC is one of three bi-county agencies, supported by the two counties. The others are LANTA, the regional bus service, and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.
Zrinski’s budget for 2027 includes $714,700 for LANTA, a 1.8% increase, and $75,000 for the LVEDC, no change.
The taxpayers are angry. They’re getting squeezed by inflation, along with higher school and municipal taxes.
This may not be a routine budget year. Council’s cuts usually don’t make a big difference. Look for that to change.
