At their November 6 meeting, Northampton County Council introduced an ordinance that will increase its stabilization, or rainy-day fund, from 5 to 10% of the general fund. It's what former Council member Ron Angle liked to call the "seed corn." If passed, it will become effective in January 2027. This, it has no impact on the stabilization fund proposed for next year by Executive Lamont McClure.
His proposed rainy-day fund for next year is $8.6 million, slightly above the minimum required by a current Council ordinance. This has been a sticking point with Council members John Brown and John Goffredo, who argue it should be higher for precisely the kind of emergency created as a result of the current state budget impasse.
McClure, however, has long maintained that letting this money sit unused amounts to overtaxing county property owners. As Executive and before that as a Council member, McClure has long argued for leaner rainy-day funds.
I believe if he and Barron had been transparent with the council this would not even be an issue. The guy is not trusted.
ReplyDeleteIf you and I ran our money accounts the way most governing units do, we would be in the poor house and crying for SNAP.
ReplyDeleteFor once, Brown has a viable point.
ReplyDeleteBrown has no point at all the only point he got was the sharp point of the stick when they voted his ass off of council (he never should have been there in the first place after he messed up everything in the county) I gues you liked paying more for health care when he was there, Higher taxes too
DeleteUnfortunately, McClure is going to learn a hard lesson. His "lean" budgets shafting the employees while taking care of his friends is going to cost him future political office. The wave is coming
ReplyDeleteMcClure is right on this. Taxpayers’ money will be sitting in a government account.
ReplyDeleteNorthampton County tax payers have a rude awaking come to them. All the games Lamont played with staff pay and running short. And getting by at gracedale with agency nursing??Playing games like our new County executive said just moving money from this bucket to this bucket isn't going to work anymore.
ReplyDeleteThe buckets are empty and the only way to refill them is with tax increases. And since they kept moving it from one bucket to another. They are all empty.
Just way northampton County tax payers. It's a coming!!!!!
Lamont made his numbers off the backs of his employees. And it's at rock bottom.
Stop with the fear mongering! They should raise taxes, it’s been 8-10 years since one has passed.
DeleteEven a 2 mill increase would cost the average Northampton County homeowner maybe $60 to $80 a year additional? That shouldn’t break anyone’s bank accounts.
Federal taxes need to be raised as well to start contributing towards this deficit especially since it’s jumped faster these last few months ever, outside of COVID.
anon 10:30, You think it is better that Taxpayers' money sit in a private developers dilapidated building to the tune of $29 million.
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