Executive Lamont McClure will propose his final budget for Northampton County on Thursday at 11 am. Since Gracedale has run at a deficit over the past two years, it's rather fitting that McClure's presentation of next year's fiscal plan will be at the nursing home. Even more fitting, it will be in the chapel.
In his tenure as Executive, McClure has never proposed a tax hike. He actually cut taxes. But this has come at a cost to the employees, who often feel that the budgets have been balanced on their backs.
Like every incumbent Executive, he is quite unpopular with the workforce. Nobody likes the boss. But he has fought against raising health care rates and restored many of the health benefits that were eliminated by John Brown when he was Executive.
Once McClure is gone, he will slowly become more popular.
I strongly doubt that his proposed 2026 budget will include a tax hike. But will he keep the rainy-day fund at the absolute minimum? Will he use funds from the county's fund balance at the end of the year to balance the budget?
If he does, Council could consider the legality of using OPEB (other post-employment benefit) trust funds to beef up the county's fund balance because the need for those funds is reduced every year as employees have no right to post-employment benefits leave the county. It might be possible to reduce the balance of that trust.
1 comment:
He is in between a rock and a hard place. His "friends" are deserting the sinking ship. His credibility is low in many circles. Best course of action? Blame those darn republicans.
BO, on a lighter note, may I be so bold to suggest that you blog something more lighthearted tomorrow? Perhaps about one of your bike outings or maybe a good ole tRUMP bashing. Those always put folk in a better mood.
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