I told you that NorCo Exec Tara Zrinski was a big hit at the recent retirees' luncheon. She talked about it during her report to County Council at last night's meeting. What's more, she spoke about how recent county budgets have shortchanged both retirees and Gracedale, She added that the state budget is having an increasingly adverse impact on seniors.
Here's the bad news for retirees: "Retirees are very concerned that a contribution was not budgeted, in part of 2025, falling behind by $4 million in all of 2026, neglecting a payment of $11.6 million. Each year, in October, we receive a recommendation from our actuaries called the actuarily determined contribution. Or ADC. Now, that doesn't mean we're $16 million at a deficit. If we make the ADC this year, we believe we'll be back on track. We are currently at a 90% funded rate. Thank you to the fine investment by PFM that they have made on behalf of our county and our retirees. But we know that the sum that we are going to have to contribute is several million dollars, and that was not in the 2026 budget. Thus, when we say the 2026 budget is working as it was designed, we are saying it was designed to not fund the pension in 2026. That trend cannot and will not continue."
The actuarily determined contribution for the pension fund in 2025 was $12.8 million, but the Lamont McClure administration only kicked in $8.2 million. In 2026, the actuarily determined contribution was $11.6 million, but McClure's budget opted to pay nothing.
The county also maintains a retiree healthcare fund to cover the medical expenses of retirees entitled to them. In 2025, the actuarily determined contribution for this fund was $2.6 million. McClure shortchanged it by a million. In 2026, the actuarily determined contribution for retiree healthcare was $2.2 million. McClure paid nothing.
Here's the bad news about Gracedale, which already received a $7 million county contribution this year to fill in last year's deficit: "[T]here will be some county contribution to Gradceale. That will most likely be several million dollars that was also not budgeted in the 2026 budget."
Say what? When former Exec Lamont McClure proposed the 2026 budget from Gracedale's chapel, he stated that Gracedale would need no county contribution. The Administrator, Michelle Morton, told County Council her budget was balanced. Both of these statements are apparently untrue.
Finally, there's bad news for seniors. Zrinski has previously said the Area Agency of Aging was getting shortchanged $400,000 this year, which has resulted in the closure of two senior centers. But last night, she warned of more cuts. "[T]he state has informed us that in our 2027 budget allocation, the area agency on aging should be, the allocation should be estimated at the 2018 2019 levels." She would like to continue offering the same services to seniors as they currently receive. "I would like to offer more services, or at least the ones that we're currently offering to seniors at the level that our seniors need to maintain their health, their quality of life, and well being."
Zrinski went on to say that a 1991 County Council resolution prevents the county from paying more for for human services beyond the match it receives from the state, and she suggested that be repealed.
There's no need if it is only a resolution. A County Council binds neither the Executive nor future Councils. That would require an ordinance.
I will have lots more about County Council and its committees next week.
68 comments:
Hate to say it, but told you this was coming.
Politicians should not be in charge of tax money they are not capable of working with money because their DNA is flawed.
What the Hell? How could the budget be that OFF? Who besides McClure is responsible? I don't blame th new people but most of the others on council had some experience and how could they pass an insufficient budget? Was their love of all things McClure so great they didn't study the budget and sound the alarm? So now the chickens are coming home to roost. This is on county council for not reviewing the budget before passing it. Good on Zirnski for being upfront on th reality.
What does it mean that the pension is funded at 90% ? How much money is in the pension ?
The average pension fund in the u s is funded at 80.2%. Things are slightly different in Canada. A 90% funded pension is considered “resilient.”
It’s not fair to Tara. This is really Lamont’s budget. She’ll get to put her own stamp on the County next year. After that, it’ll be her vision going forward. As it should be.
It's no longer a question. Lamont McClure is a documented liar and the worst executive in NorCo history. Hats off to voters who completely rejected his continued political plans as he jumped like a rat from the ship he sunk.
As a Northampton County senior citizen for many years already, I can only say this information is beyond disappointing. Our state and local government has an obligation to perform much better.
McClure ran this county into the ground just to use not raising taxes as a political slogan, and he lost and lost big! Who is the next director of fiscal affairs? Ironic the day after he loses the county finds one, let’s hope it’s not who we all think, and we do the right thing and bring in a true honest fresh public servant with integrity.
You are just realizing that McClueless lies! Sooooo glad he lost on Tuesday.
Interesting that this comes out just after Lamont lost his primary. There will need to be a tax hike in 2027.
The average municipal pension in Pennsylvania is funded at 78%. Northampton County is in good shape.
McLoser strikes again. No wonder he lost the primary. People saw thru his lies Bend over Norco taxpayer, the big one is coming. TZ doesn't have much choice thanks to McClueless's lack of integrity.
The PA Auditor General did an audit of the pension fund in 2023 and found it was funded at 95%. The report can be found on the AG’s website.
McClure, in his own way just as crooked as brooks
Well Bernie, how do you feel about Lamont now? He lies, he bullies. Not only that, the stock market is at a record high. What happens to the pension fund if we have a prolonged down turn in the markets?
So if the retirement fund was funded to its correct percentage, why would we overpay it? Why wouldn't we use that money that is usually funded for that to go towards something else? Why would we have the retirement fund at 100% if it only really needs to be funded at 85%, the 90% is incorrect.
So it’s not a question of a tax increase, but how much?? Gracedale is a much bigger problem than we were led to believe. The pension fund is 90% funded which isn’t bad, but not paying in cannot continue. Rendell did this on the state level and really made a mess. There is a fiscal shit storm coming, it was swept under the rug because of Lamont’s bid for Congress. Where were Keegan and Warren? They knew this was coming yet they were more interested in helping Lamont. As far as the state cuts, the Covid Biden bail out money is running out. Shapiro is running for President so he’s not going to raise taxes, he’s going to exhaust the rainy day fund. He’s going to leave a fiscal mess just like McClure.
It has been so very frustrating to read about and/or watch/listen to Lamont McClure as county executive over the last eight years. His math, especially about Gracedale, was always fuzzy (how could it not need county contribution if the census was low, expenses were high due to use of agency staff and lawsuits were and probably still are pending due to abuse of residents. Yet Democrats poo pooed it and even supported him (especially County retirees). Now those same retirees have a supposed new savior in Zrinski who has truly no clue. If Tara was the controller, how did she not know any of this (or did she know and just want the executive job so badly that she was willing to take on this mess?)I recall seeing political campaign ads during that campaign with Tara, Lamont and Jerry since both of them “endorsed “ her. Jerry supported Lamont too, right? Who knew what when? Must watch the You Tube of that meeting to see the faces of those Democrats on the council with this news and whether or not Tara chews her gum throughout again.
McClure made this point when questioned about no contribution to the pension fund: ""I'm glad you asked that question. There is no risk. Currently, in the pension fund, we have $563,181,986.53. ... Our pension fund at the beginning of the year was funded at 90.7%. It is now presumably, because it has grown, funded at 93%. Your average pension fund in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is funded at 77%. Actually, nationally, the average is 77%. ... The taxpayers have been overtaxed for the pension and specifically, to the tune of $103,469,300.00. That's one year of the general fund real estate taxes. One entire year of the taxes we collect for the general fund went into the pension fund. We're going to rebalance that. It will be back down to about - I suspect - 85% funded at the end of next year.""
Ron Heckman said the budget wasn't right and proposed a tax increase that was shot down.
Couple of things - re Gracedale, I have yet to see the public apology John Brown is due. Like him or not, he called this and he was right.
And on the pension plan - "We're less underfunded than others, so all is good." This is the same jabroni who announced that unaudited statements are worthless. What an indictment of the County Finance Department - their work cannot be relied on. Somehow I doubt that's true.
Lamont McClure was a train wreck financially. Let's see if Tara is up to the task.
90% funding is more than not bad. It means the county can forgo contributions some years.
McClure is being attacked for not raising taxes. There are reasonable arguments that he should have sought an increase, which Council would have to approve.
If he had raised taxes, he’d be attacked for that too.
So let it rip.
Kept electing democrats. What a shit show. People need to start understanding and researching PEOPLE not party. Just look at the county executive and council. Comical.
If Gracedale was at the budgeted for census, it would not need a county contribution.
As a retiree who attended the retirees luncheon, Jerry passed out literature along with information from the Retirement Board that was not very complimentary to Mr. McClure. If Jerry was supporting McClure he sure didn't show it at the luncheon. Tara Zrinski and Pat Strunk also spoke about the Retirement Account and neither were very complimentary. I don't know what happened but something appears to have gone amok. The McClure campaign proved one thing,,,,"Politics sure does make strange bedfellows".
Politics is one thing. Government is another. Also, facts are facts. Jerry and Pat Strunk presented facts. Jerry adamantly opposed not funding the pension and retiree health care. He opposed the reduction in healthcare benefits to many retirees, which he actually considers illegal. He is and has been an ardent advocate of retirees, no matter who is executive. In his 8 years as Exec, COLAs were denied three times. That was pointed out.
I have consistently pointed out where Brown has been right and where he has been wrong.
Lamont made all these poor choices just to get walloped by Brooks. I feel it’s also needed for someone to point out to this blogs readers that are mostly over 60 that the entire government works for you at every level. Constantly getting handouts and taken care of I believe the term is boomer luxury communism. Sorry you’re getting one more thing paid for on the next generations dime as we are plunged further in debt
Wow. You and all his followers are just realizing McLoser is a BIG McLiar! After talking her into running he dumps a completely BAD budget on her lap. He’s undermining her from afar. Now he’s solicitor? Fire him and put his salary into the retirement fund. He needs to crawl back under the rock he came out from. So glad that disgraceful human didn’t get the nomination.
90% is good. But if you don’t pay a couple years and you have a 2008 situation or a Covid situation it goes to shit real quick. Most counties are funded in the 70% range, but what they don’t tell you is at that level they are borderline distressed. We don’t want that to happen here.
According to Act 205 78% is a distressed pension fund. It’s minimally distressed but you’re asking for trouble. Skipping one or two years, this county can probably get away with, but what happens is you get used to not making g the payment because the money is going somewhere else. The markets are at record highs. We are at full employment, it’s not always going to be like this.
252pm boomer luxury communism What the hell is that. The Northampton County retirees were hired at lower pay with a good retirement package. IT was earned and retirement and health care should be funded properly. Handouts my ass. Who plunged you further in debt? Not the retirees. The billionaires are putting you into debt. You hate seniors who worked full careers and get what they earned. I had no idea you had to be 60 to read your blog. Get a job with benifits
What he doesn’t mention is 77% funded you are now considered minimally distressed pension fund. In fact, anything below 89% funded is considered minimally distressed. Below 70% now you’re moderately distressed, according to Act 205. We don’t want pension problems on top of Gracedale problems, so a one time payment skip is ok, but Tara is right, it can’t continue.
Excuse me. You think all people over 60 get government handouts? What are you talking about?
Wrong. They dont have staff for budget census. Agency cost helped get them into this mess
Agree with above but remember that TZ knew what was going on with the budget(she was Controller) and for years knew about problems with funding Gracedale while on council. Do not excuse her from being complicit.
Or the commissioners could have voted yes to the TIF that would have gave 2 million back to the County.
She will keep McClure close by,she can't run the county without him.
Yes. What most other countries have as basic human services such as healthcare and robust welfare are siphoned off only to the elderly in America. Defense Social Security Medicare/Medicaid is 60% of the federal budget. At the state and local level there’s a constant flow of tax breaks or rebates specifically for the elderly. Politicians love to talk about how boomers are on a fixed income, but last I checked everyone’s income is fixed. Boomers think it’s unfair that they pay school taxes since they don’t have any children attending school anymore. But we should ignore the fact that elderly use the most services that an educated population provides. Elderly naturally provide the least amount of taxes but use the most services provided. Younger generations are now paying into social security that won’t be there for them, they are being replaced by AI, they have much lower buying power than boomers ever had. Our school quality continues to go down, getting higher education costs far more, the cost of housing for young families is sky high partly because it’s an imperfect market where boomers are being kept in houses they wouldn’t be able to afford if someone else’s taxes weren’t paying for it. Property tax breaks to keep seniors in their home causes home values to increase. It’s a nice policy and they probably shouldn’t have to leave their home if they don’t want to but every policy or tax break comes at a cost. We seem to be incapable of building new housing mostly due to boomer NIMBYism at the same time young people’s taxes subsidize property tax rebates for the elderly. So yes policy is all geared towards catering to the older generations and giving nothing to young people that are directly keeping it all afloat. They pay into Social Security pay for Medicare/Medicaid and they’ll never get it because some DC ghoul elected by boomers will take it away. People love to throw out the classic but “they worked their whole lives” yeah who hasn’t/isnt going to? My whole point is the government specifically does cater policy that should be universal only to boomers, and even mentioning that is a sin because I’m supposed to respect my elders but they’ve never respected my generation for a second. We also are going to inherit their govt debt that’s more than annual gdp, because it all went to their wars, corporations after their economy collapsed and giveaways to the boomer generation. George Carlin has a good bit about boomers, watch it then argue with a wall.
Ron Heckman never voted for a tax increase during his years serving as a County Legislator. For him to sponsor County Legislation to increase taxes was a surefire sign that something was definitely wrong with the County Budget. No one listened to him and he couldn't even get a second sponsor to correct this deficit budget. What does that say for this makeup of Commissioners/County Council? You tell your employees they are your greatest asset and then you outright shaft them.
I'm 64 and working, scooter. Not one government handout my entire life. Maybe you should try a little "shut the fuck up"-ing
Further justification for not supporting the Dixie Cup/Wilson Borough TIF. It looks like the eventual tax revenue generated from the project will be needed by the county.
Anon 1:29 am said: “How could the budget be that OFF? Who besides McClure is responsible? I don't blame the new people but most of the others on council had some experience and how could they pass an insufficient budget? ”;
and
Anon 5:32 said: “It’s not fair to Tara. This is Lamont’s budget”
The great thing about county government is that it has a fail-safe built into county government to prevent this type of thing from happening, and taxpayers fund it annually.
What is it?
It’s an entire office headed by an INDEPENDENT controller whose job it is to serve as a check-and-balance on any administration that’s playing games with the county’s finances.
The only way the system breaks down is if the voters elect an incompetent political hack as Controller that is politically supported by (and therefore owes) the very administration the Controller is supposed to be watching over.
Surely the voters aren’t that stupid and the previous controller so inept that this could have ever happened in NorCo.
Oh, wait…
I believe she's more than capable. She has a completely different focus than Lamont did. She is far more concerned about the people who work for the county. He was fairly cheap. I believe her approach to Gracedale will be different.
1213 am. I appreciate that you answered. However your argument is extremely flawed and reveals a scary anger that you hold that is for some reason aimed towards people over 60. Many programs support low income, disabled, and fraud filled programs that help young capable people who dont work that got us to where we are today. Many problems you mention aren't caused by the 60 year old plus. Except for a few exceptions we all pay full taxes and school taxes etc. Most over 60 have never taken one handout in their entire lives. We never felt we deserved anything from anyone and worked hard to have what we have. God willing you will live long enough to see how hard it is to work your whole life only to struggle in retirement. We believe in hard work. We believe in the American dream. If you dont like it here leave. Or get involved and do something productive to help the issues you feel are important. But blaming one group of people for the challenges we all faced is frankly unhinged and just wrong.
She’s making public promises she cannot keep
C’mon, she has been aware of all this while on council, as the controller, and now executive, she didn’t inherit the problems, she caused some of them by not standing up when she had a chance.
Brownie was involved in dealings with the bridge programs and funding that created more problems than helped, he is owed no apology.
Then Tara needs to show that ,and get rid of McClure because he will throw her under the bus anytime he has a chance.
I worked and lived below my means my entire career. Drove old cars. I never made a lot of money. Now I’m 61 and I’ve scraped together a nice nest egg. Some would consider me rich since I hit that magic number. These kids like this poster have been brainwashed into being jealous of anything someone else has that they don’t. Great societies take care of their children and their elders. You’re just angry at your lot in life and looking to blame someone. Stop worrying about what others have and go make your life successful. You can do it.
Hi Mike, You should probably put your phone down. You’re embarrassing yourself.
You completely ignored everything written there took it all as a personal attack and got irrationally angry. A perfect boomer response
Yrah Yeah Yeah. It is obvious you never had a public hand out or a subsidized public service. You never went to Kindergarten or road a school bus or drove on a street or walked on a sidewalk or went to school (that I am still paying taxes for). You never saw a police officer or an ambulance or a fire engine. Think about it. How old are your parents and grandparents?
I’m trying to give TZ the benefit of the doubt but you’re right. She knew, but didn’t want to hurt her boy Lamont. Now that he lost the primary I look for her to gently throw him under the bus lol.
I am not jealous angry or unhinged. I made a snide comment then backed it up. My overall point that government policy specifically assists the elderly generations has largely gone unchallenged. Some have given anecdotal evidence that they’ve never taken a handout, while others claim public roads police/emt and schools are handouts that I’ve taken advantage of. No one’s refuted that the social security I pay won’t be there when my generation retires or that my generation is saddled with debt that paid for others lifestyles. I don’t really blame boomers for this it’s billionaires and the politicians that are bought by them but boomers do go along with it. Look at the exit polls from Massie’s race young people voted for him but 65+ carried some nobody that will do whatever Trump asks for to victory. Outside of Obama the last few presidents were all born in the 40’s and we all know what Congress looks like. There’s a generational gap that no one is capable of addressing and if pointed out it just results in irrationally. I will also call out my own generation as they are becoming more radicalized to one side or the other. Insult me tell me to shut the fuck up it doesn’t matter
Try us boomers supporting your lazy socialists butts. You seem to be the person always whining about boomers so educate yourself basement boy. Nothing is free. Most of us boomers have or had things called jobs and worked and saved and DID NOT expect everything to be handed to us at age 20. Touch grass please.
@9:15 Perfect response. Our little Socialist friend here needs a history lesson. Entitlement at it's best. Society is doomed.
@7:28 Can you imagine being so deluded as this entitled gamer.
Or maybe a job instead of playing games and wanting $50 per hour being a batista.
Again I fail to see your point
I just read this thread it’s hilarious!! It’s the boomers fault for your lot in life!! Some snowflake complaining because he needs more free shit. There are some great young people out there, but man there is a subset of whiny entitled snowflakes who do nothing but complain. Pay off my student loans ect ect . Spot on 9:15AM. Great post!!
Above…This is not only Lamont’s budget, the new county executive knew all along the various pitfalls that existed with the budget and mis handling of redirected funds.This past council person/ controller knew what was coming.
9:28, Zrinski voiced her concerns over the budget before it was adopted and before she assumed office.
BO at 11:59:
You act like the budget is a one year problem, from decisions made at the time the last budget was adopted. But the reality is that the current budget (and the one coming out) are the accumulation of many bad decisions made throughout several recent years.
While I admire Zrinski’s attempt to make the financial equivalent of a “deathbed conversion”, the reality is that she had her hands in most, if not all, of the bad decisions that got us to where we are today.
Try as she may to cover it up, she is as responsible as anyone for the position she (and the county) is in right now, and perhaps the MOST responsible since she used the controller’s office for personal political advancement instead of the independent office it was designed to be.
I’m sorry, but that’s simply unforgivable. She is by no means an innocent bystander to the fiscal train wreck that is upon us.
Yes, she voiced her concerns, but failed to act on the problems she had been aware of for her years on council, her stint as controller, and now her role as executive. She is now demonstrating
her inability to steer and manage multiple levels of management while facing the fiscal mistakes she was a part of.
BO. So what if she “voiced” her concerns…she voices off about everything and what action has she really initiated? Name one real action she has taken and followed through on?
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