ALLENTOWN, Pa. - On August 26, Lehigh County revealed its $505 million budget proposal for 2022.
Executive Phil Armstrong’s budget proposal calls for no property tax increase for residents next year.
“This is a bell ringing day,” he said.
The budget is almost $50 million more than last year’s due to debt service payoff from pandemic relief money.
Property taxes account for $115 million of the county’s revenue. Most of the rest is from state and federal grants.
“Our goal always was to have a budget proposal with the dignity and livelihood of our residents in mind,” Armstrong said.
Money from pandemic relief allowed the county to pay down debt service, Armstrong said.
One of the county’s biggest expenses, he said, is employee salaries, adding that next year’s budget includes a 2.5% increase for non-union employees.
Other big expenses include “law and order,” pension and medical contributions for employees, nursing homes and farmland preservation.
The next step calls for budget approval by the County Board of Commissioners.
Armstrong is running for re-election this November. The district commissioner seats are also up for grabs.