Northampton County Council Passes No Tax Hike Budget

When the Northampton County taxman cometh in January, you'll be surprised to see that your bill is no larger than it was last year. Despite all the dire warnings of an impending 9.3% tax increase in recent weeks, Council and the Stoffa administration came up with an amended budget that gives non-union workers a 2 1/4% salary increase and even restores funding for LANTA and LVPC. Only Council members Ron Angle and Joe Capozzolo voted No.

How did they do it?

First, they changed the actuarial method used to compute the County's contribution to the retirement fund. Eschewing recent legislative changes that would lessen the burden even more, the County's actuary recommended this new method, which even received the endorsement of Finance Director Vic Mazziotti. Council member Lamont McClure spearheaded that initiative,

Second, Council member John Cusick persuaded colleagues to eliminate $1.6 million slated for "environmentally sensitive" land. Cusick and Angle had disparaged these as worthless swamps while Dertinger protested they are actually "vernal pools."

Third, the Stoffa administration reduced its proposed funding for Wayne Grube Memorial Park and farmland preservation by $1 million.

Finally, to close the $1 million or so outstanding gap between spending and revenue, Stoffa agreed to take it out of the fund balance. "Will that still give us two months of expenses in reserve," Angle asked. "I can't guarantee that," answered Budget Administrator Doran Hamann.

The decision to reduce, but not eliminate, open space funding, had its share of critics. In a nonbinding referendum in 2003, voters overwhelmingly authorized the County to borrow up to $37 million for open space. John Stoffa was elected on the promise that he would actually raise taxes a half mill for open space. McClure called this reduction and reversal the "death knell. It's over. I don't think you'll ever be able to argue to the next council or the council after that, 'Oh, we preserved that money.' "

Jerry Seyfried, serving in his last meeting on Council, had some sage advice. "If you tell the taxpayers of this County something, and then you do something entirely different, you're no better than the federal government. Marty Bechtel [the County's first Exec] used to say, 'Tell the people, be honest with them, tell the people exactly what you're gonna' do, but follow through and do it.' You told the people of this County you were going to use a half mill taxes for your open space program and the whole bit. I support that. I support that. And you should put the money back in and the main reason is that next year you're going to go through the same thing again. The sixteen years - twelve that I sat here and four as County Executive - every year you have problems with the budget. No time is ever a right time to do these things. ... Don't go back on your word to the people. You promised the people this is what you were gonna' do with that half mill of tax, and if you don't do it, you're just like those people in Washington."

So did Stoffa and County Council screw the people who overwhelmingly support open space? Not exactly, but they sure fondled them.

A petulant Ron Angle complained to County Exec John Stoffa, "You broke your word to the taxpayers and shot me with rusty bullets." Stoffa shrugged, "I need a budget."

With the budget out of the way and everyone breathing a sigh of relief, departing Council members Charles Dertinger, Joe Capozzolo and Jerry Seyfried were awarded plaques the size of postage stamps. Dertinger choked back a few tears and thanked everyone. Joe Cap actually started singing, "I did it my way," which set off the smoke alarms. Then Jerry, impersonating Louis Armstrong, began singing "Hello Dolly." That brought sheriffs into Council chambers with guns drawn.

Seyfried has vowed to have his dog-eared copy of the Home Rule Charter framed and presented to Angle.

Seyfried and Capozzolo had a very positive impact on this Council, something noted both by Lamont McClure and Ron Angle. They will be missed, but not by me. Things got pretty bad for a blog that thrives on chaos. I had to go to Allentown.