Last night, Northampton County Council met to consider seven amendments to the Executive's proposed budget for next year. They adopted six, some of which the administration contends violate the Home Rule Charter's requirement of a balanced budget.
Before I get into them, let me tell identify the participants so I can refer to them by surname.
The cast consisted of Council members Lori Vargo Heffner, Jeff Corpora, John Brown, John Goffredo, Kelly Keegan, Jeff Warren, Ron Heckman, Ken Kraft and Tom Giovanni. Executive Lamont McClure, Fiscal Affairs Director Steve Barron, EMS Director Todd Weaver and Community and Economic Development Director Tina Smith. Heckman was unable to attend in person for good reasons made known to County Council in advance. Warren had to leave after the third amendment to attend a parent-teacher conference for his children.
Before Council got into the actual amendments, Barron reminded them that the Home Rule Charter makes clear that the budget must be balanced. Unlike the federal government, the county has no money trees. Ttal proposed spending may not exceed anticipated revenue. Council does have the power to amend, but it must leave intact any payments scheduled for debt service and it has no authority to modify the Executive's revenue estimates. If it wants to fund something, it has to find the money by making cuts elsewhere.
1) DCED COVID response grants. Removal of $225,000 for a bi-county rail study by the Lehigh Valley Planning Comm'n. (LVPC) Proposed by Vargo Heffner.
McClure called the amendment "misguided" and explained this money is intended for agency nursing at Gracedale. He added that LVPC is already sitting on $4 million of NorCo funds gathering interest. Vargo Heffner proposed it because Lehigh County has set aside funds and wants a match from NorCo. They only would get the money if a rail study is actually done. County.
Goffredo agreed with McClure, saying the money is sorely needed at Gracedale. Kraft would love to have passenger rail, but "we've been talking about a train forever."
This amendment died for lack of a second..
2) Take away $8,000 in hotel taxes for IronPigs and LV Public Telecommunications Corps to provide $8,000 for Bangor's 150th birthday celebration. Proposed by Giovanni.
Bangor had asked for $20,000 for the birthday bash and general marketing and was awarded $15,000. Kraft said he is opposed because all three entities applied for grants and were recommended for them. Giovanni wants the money because the committee organizing it has a budget of $100,000.
Supported by Corpora, Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Tom Giovanni..
3) Remove $25,000 from gaming grants to Bath Borough Hall and Firehouse for the purchase of backup generators. Proposed by Giovanni.
Bath Borough did not apply for this project, noted Smith has concerns. Bath Fire Co did get $15,000 for mobile radios. Kraft said they should apply next year and get more money. Giovanni said there is no backup power. Goffredo agrees that the grant process is one way, but Council members hear from constituents with reasonable requests. There must be a cash match.
Supported by Corpora, Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Giovanni..
4) Remove $3,166,965 across all divisions to partially fund the P25 radio system. Proposed by Goffredo.
Goffredo stated the county typically budgets 120% of what is actually spent. He added that a P25 radio system is a "matter of life and death," but does not need a bond issue.
McClure said he doubts there are six votes for this, and he will veto it. A 2.5% cut would require McClure to reduce the step increase for career service to zero. He said that county does not spend all that is budgeted because of vacancies. Barron later addeed that not all money is spent because it is encumbered.
Weaver, EMS Director, said P25 was purchased from Bethlehem in 2019. To expand it, EMS secured grants for five sites. To continue the expansion, Weaver asked that it be included in a bond issue. Infrastructure must be in place before it can be tested. Vargo Heffner was irritated that the administration is now opposed to getting funding. "If you think it's funny, keep laughing, but I don't," she said to McClure. "You accused us of neglecting public safety."
McClure insists this amendment will result in an unbalanced budget and it also is cutting the court's budget and the DA's budget. It could lead to a lawsuit over the administration of justice. Goffredo, said to McClure, "If we spend less than we project for, why not project a little less and then we'll have money for the radios?"
Supported by Corpora, Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Giovanni..
5) Remove $10,000 from future table grants to give $10,000 to Columbia Fire Co for a tool upgrade special unit. They asked for $20,000 and got $10,000. Proposeed by Giovanni
Supported by Corpora, Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Giovanni..
6) Adding $5 million to financial stabilization "rainy day" fund. Proposed by Brown.
Barron stated this knocks the budget out of balance. McClure stated this would be a nullity and that the budget as he originally proposed it, would be the adopted budget. Vargo Heffner accused McClure of dramatics
Supported by Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Tom Giovanni..
7) Removal of $775,000 from COVID grants to fund P25 radio project. Kraft asked if we could use COVID grants for P25. Barron stated that COVID money may be used for public safety. (Unsure who proposed this amendment)
Making a choice between agency nurses at Gracedale and P25.
Supported by Corpora, Vargo Heffner, Brown, Goffredo and Giovanni..
It appears to me that Goffredo's $3 million cut would violate the Charter because it would require cuts to funds that are already encumbered or needed for debt service. It is abundantly clear that Brown's amendment would result in an unbalanced budget.
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