NorCo Executive Lamont McClure has proposed a budget for next year, which is currently under review by County Council. Whatever they decide, incoming Executive Tara Zrinski will inherit it. And she has noticed some problem areas concerning the pension fund, stabilization fund, the elimination of two programs at the jail and county contributions for open space and a required watershed study. Here's what she has to say:
As Northampton County Controller, I have reviewed the proposed 2026 County budget and followed the public hearings over the past several weeks. While I appreciate County Council and the administration for their ongoing commitment to fiscal responsibility, I have significant concerns about underfunded areas that pose long-term risks to our county’s financial stability.
One of my most pressing concerns is the inadequate funding for retiree obligations, including pension and Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) such as retiree healthcare. The latter is not as concerning because of limited eligibility for future retiree healthcare since the 2010 resolution vacating the County’s obligation to extend healthcare to retirees that don’t meet the longevity threshold.
Deferring these commitments may appear to balance the budget in the short term, though, but it places future budgets—and taxpayers—at greater potential risk. With volatile market conditions, rising healthcare costs, and the continued drawdown of our emergency stabilization fund, the county’s financial margins have grown too narrow to absorb additional shocks.
While County Council proposed an ordinance increasing the stabilization fund from 5% - 6%, they have not indicated from where these funds will arise. In order to balance the budget they have to take money from one pot and place it in that stabilization fund. I’m deeply concerned about reductions in funding to core county programs, which is already apparently happening particularly within our Department of Corrections with this current proposed budget.
The proposed elimination of programming such as LEAP and Pinebrook Services represents a step backward for initiatives that have proven effective in rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. At a moment when we are uncertain whether we can sustain payroll for essential human service employees in children and youth services into 2026, cuts to these successful programs are especially troubling. If we cannot sustain these line items this year, it calls into question how we will maintain them in future years without new or additional sources of revenue.
Additionally, the proposed budget fails to include county contributions to Open Space Initiatives or Farmland Preservation—longstanding commitments to protecting our environment and quality of life. I am also concerned that the statutory obligation to fund the Pennsylvania Act 167 Watershed Study has not been accounted for in this proposal.
My concerns are not political; they are fiduciary. It is my legal and ethical duty as Controller to identify systemic risks that could undermine Northampton County’s fiscal health. County Council has asked thoughtful questions throughout the hearings, but it will be critical that they act decisively before adopting a final budget.
I will continue to carefully analyze the proposed budget and raise awareness of any additional risks. Transparency, accountability, and long-term financial sustainability remain my top priorities as we work to secure a stable future for Northampton County.
56 comments:
On his way out the door, Lamont is defunding farmland preservation - an extremely successful program and one I thought he strongly supported? WTH. He's taking a page from John Brown's playbook - he who pulled that 8 or so years ago. Weird.
Tara just may go down as the greatest county executives of all time. She is already off to a great start and didn’t take office yet. Go Tara we thank you!
In summary, McClure you did the county, the people and me dirty. Is it so you can say you didn't raise taxes when you run for another political office?
Uh Oh
OMG Tara is correct! Unfortunately the root cause is Gracedale losing $38 million over the last 2 years under Lamont's leadership. The budget for 2026 doesn't anticipate a county contribution which is wishful thinking.
A report on budget proposal does not mean she is doing a great job. She has a pre existing problem inherent in the way funds have been moved, which she was a part of during her tenure as councilwoman. She also must find ways to increase revenues and fund Gracedale without raising taxes or robbing funds from departments .She sent this out knowing she has issues to soften the impact before they must deal with them.
It’s a good political maneuver, but doesnt
Indicate that they can be resolved.
Drink some more kool-aid.
Translation: "I'm a socialist/communist and I'm raising your taxes immediately. And stop using plastic straws you vile peasant!"
Maybe the Controller, who successfully ran for the job of county executive, should propose where to cut the budget to fund the programs she wants to restore.
Surely her vast knowledge of the county budget should make it an easy task for her.
The days of pointing out “concerns” are over. She needs to propose solutions.
If she can’t, she’s not up for the job.
This is as Tara might say, “Super Awesome !” Looking forward to her solutions. Higher taxes ? Where do you cut ? Is she for giving Becky Bradley a million dollars ?
Take your meds before speaking
When she takes the reigns she will create the solutions and work to make them happen. Didn't you lose your election John Brown? Asking for a friend. Now go back to Bangor and let the adults run the government.
During the campaign Zrinski promised County employees that she would pay them more. She needs to raises taxes to do this. She needs an excuse as to why she needs to raises taxes taxes, so here begins her year long campaign to raise taxes. Part of the problem here is that she has identified other funding priorities, so where’s she going to get the money for that ?
She should prioritize where funding is or has been eliminated for specific necessary services that the county needs. The fed funding may or may not be in the budget mix at this point. Yes, to the Gracedale concern, but she should lean on
Dave Holland for input on navigating the IGT funding , if it even exists at this point.
A well overdue audit on pay inequities that have existed for years without being addressed. The taxes , over the years, have been politically anesthetized, and will most likely need to be
slowly increased, or she must be able to offer a creative way to increase revenues . She is far from out of the woods with what she has inherited.
Several of these concerns raised by "Tara" have been raised during the "budget Hearings" of County Council. The ball is in their court. They control the purse strings. This financial situation didn't happen overnight. They were a weak Council lead around by the nose because they lacked the ability and the know how to properly function by exercising their legislative authority. They are the "check and Balance" to the Administration and if everything Tara is stating is true, then they failed miserably. Here's a chance for them to step up to the plate and hit a home run. On the flip side of that coin, I want to hear what Mr. McClure has to say about all this before I make a final decision.
The County likes to state "OUR EMPLOYEES ARE OUR GREATEST ASSETS". When are they going to prove it? Personnel are the greatest cost to the County so what does the County do, They screw their greatest assets to balance their budgets and keep taxes down. What are you going to do about wages TARA? Are you going to follow the past administrations by shafting your workforce? Please tell us.
Bingo! What she really wants is this Council to raise taxes for her so she doesn't have to in her first year. Just ask yourself how she became County Controller without a financial background. Shows you the political stench coming out of Northampton County.
TZ was on council long enough to know both the executive wants and push , while riding the inside council concerns. If she is worried before she even begins, we all should be.
Before the election, John Brown was telling people, including in a radio interview, that McClure blew through the $70M county surplus that was there at the end of his term when he left office. Is this true and where can we find out about that information?
As bad as it might be seen as being for my political party, I hope you’re right and Zrinski does a great job for the people of Northampton County.
Scott Janney
It’s too early and too little info to judge yet.
McClure reduced taxes bc the tax hike imposed by a previous council created a larger fund balance than needed. The $ went into your pockets.
I believe she is warning that a proposed Council ordinance increasing the rainy day fund from 5 to 10% of the fund balance will make a tax increase necessary, and it will be council's doing.
You can bet that there won’t be any talks about “giving money back” in the near future. Maybe this new council will research county needs more closely and eliminate their selfish concerns about what their title is or infighting over insignificant concerns.
Bernie,
Do you remember the approx. dollar amount returned to each person or family when McClure refunded ???
12:17, It is impossible to answer that question bc every property is assessed differently. What I can say is that his 8% tax cut in 2022 has amounted to $24 million that stayed in taxpayers' pockets instead of county coffers. https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/northampton-county/lets-talk-2025-northampton-county-executive-on-taxes-priorities-and-the-year-ahead/article_47b03716-d765-11ef-9c02-df9e34d12a94.html
Is the county still getting funding for Gracedale?
And he gives county employees a 2% wage increase out the door. Well he has 2% at winning his next election.
@12:17 I believe it came out as an average $60/year for each property owner...on a roughly $8 million "surplus."
$24 Million over 3 years sounds like a lot, but when spread over 300,000 residents it comes out to like 25 bucks per year for each resident, and maybe $75-100/year on average for every property owner (since most county taxes are property related. That's a few dollars a MONTH. As a tax cut that is worthless for basically everyone, and put the county in greater financial stress, which has resulted in decreased services overall. And lets remember that the money just doesn't got into "county coffers" but is actually spent on staff time and services, it goes back out into the community via the employees and contractors.
Here comes the tax increase!
$24 million doesn't just sound like a lot. It is a lot. If you're already wealthy and making lots of money, that may not mean much, but it means a lot to retired seniors on fixed incomes dealing with rising prices. What you are trying to do is minimize it bc it was a McClure idea. But if it means as little as you insist, then by all means propose a tax hike.
You can't have it both ways. You people are slamming McClure for giving a tax cut and are also slamming him and Zrinski for an increase that neither has proposed. But if Council wants to beef up the rainy day fund and put more money into it with the ordinance he proposed, then John Brown will also need to propose a tax hike unless he is planning to cut health car and hiring freezes the way he did when he was Exec.
Yes, this is wrong.
Good to see her back at work after eight months of campaign leave.
I don’t blame Zrinski for being miffed. Her first year will be a bare bones budget she had no role in shaping. She’s also pissed that she will be raising taxes in 2027 merely to keep Gracedale County owned. She may have misunderstood the job she ran for.
What do you mean “you people?”You’re very thin skinned lately. I am merely pointing out that there is most likely a tax increase coming. I was actually against the tax cut. Whatever. Lamont is leaving this for TZ because a tax increase right before his congressional campaign wouldn’t have looked good. I actually agree with TZ pointing out the issues she’s being left with. He’s leaving a bad financial situation for her. I don’t blame her one bit.
Bernie, I'm posting anonymously but speaking honestly, my wife and kids are just a few thousand dollars in annual income for SNAP benefits. We are not rich, or wealthy, but we were lucky enough to purchase our home before prices skyrocketed. With inflation, $6-9/month is not even a pound of ground beef. It did next to nothing to help rising prices. I would rather the county budget not fall apart, and they play games with things like public pensions or open space preservation.
Zirinski is in McClure's pocket. So, anything she says must be cleared. If she is not, then she will see that McClure's political budgets over eight-years are now coming home to being broke. His polices have almost destroyed Grisedale with no contingency plan, he abandoned preservation, he screwed over retiree contributions. The guy has left the county high and dry.
If Zrinski was unable to determine where $5 million dollars went that was set for Gracedale employee retention, where will she find this money. That’s right she she blame executives of Gracedale. She will hold no responsibility or find a fix. She will just blame others where she will fail.
Still upset by Tuesday’s elections I see. You’ll get over it. Get your SNAP monies yet? Maybe pawn that shiny red hat you wear.
@9:06am.. I’m a resident and I know taxes MUST be raised! Costs for you and I go up they do also for all government purchases. Hasn’t been an increase in a decade, past due. Raise taxes and fund the obligations, us residents deserve a well funded and well run county government!
I’d support her even more if she did raise taxes and restored all county services! RAISE THE TAX!
Bernie, taxes must be raised to sustain limited services. I’m sure many struggle with even the smallest increase however all generations of retirees have dealt with that same issue. Sucks to say but I too will struggle even more when I retire, it’s a fact of life. Stop with that excuse of hurting the elderly, it has to happen. Again, it’s stinks for those already hurting but county seemed to have stripped the budget of all they can therefore, probably not much more they can save.
I suggest a tax increase!
@ 4:18..Increase in taxes is long overdue. I mean a mill increase may cost someone $50 a year? You can afford that. If not then cancel your internet or turn off your cell phone to stop from making these silly comments!
Funny how TZ the councilwoman was a yes vote for McClure her entire time on council, even saying yes to the “give back”. Now she has to explain how her capitulation to McClure will force her hand to raise taxes or do something to
Raise
Money for Gracedale and more. Beware of what you wish for, TZ!
The job is one thing. Zrinski thinks it’s another. She’s about to find out.
Hopefully Zirinski is more emotionally mature than McClure. She should take the initiative and reach out and treat council with respect. McClure could not handle that. He and his staff are very arrogant and treat county council like a problem instead of a partner in government. If you disagree with him even once you are stupid and an obstructionist to be shunned. Hopefully, she can accept a no vote and move on. McClure is like Trump, a two-year-old emotionally in a man's body. Show the county how a woman is better. She is actually better without Barron. Also, the county resources used for personal attacks by McClure on council needs to stop.
So Lamont puts out a budget that will protect his arse but screw the incoming exec who he supported and was supposed friends with. Sounds like he’s only good at stabbing his friends in the back. He should fit well if he makes it past the primary for congress. He doesn’t care about anyone but his own self interest.
I worry because Barron is not there, I worry because TZ will need to build a new team of financial players who can navigate state and federal waters. I worry because being able to speak loud and raising money doesn't automatically give you the qualifications to handle over 2,000 people, unions, and work side by side with other counties. She earned the title with her voters, she must prove she is up to the job of understanding the county and its HRC.
The Gracedale Nursing Home Administrator quit. The job was just posted today for 107K.
Dave Holland should apply immediately….his background would be more useful there than at the councilman position…it also would be a huge pay increase
Wow. Back in August of this year, a new strategic plan to increase open positions from 40% to 70% by 2026 was discussed.
Full staff, lean management, upgrade hiring practices, recognize top staff, etc
How’d that go??
You can slice that elephant in the room to tiny bits, but it’s still not digestible
Hey Vlad-o, you spoke too soon. Zrinski's been in Nawlins all week. It appears she needed some R&R after those eight months of campaigning. 😡
Everyone always needs a good laugh every day. Thanks. 😂😂😂
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