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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

NorCo Council Needs to Adopt Rules Concerning Social Media Use

Northampton County employs a full-time communications director who periodically provides informational posts about what is happening in the county, like the need for a few more elections workers or drop box locations. But increasingly, the person paid by taxpayers is using a governmental social media platform to instead promote both the county executive as well as her agenda. This needs to change and the best way for that to happen is by having County Council adopt a social policy ordinance to prevent elected officials from self-promotion or advocacy on issues that have yet to be endorsed by the governing body. It should never be used to promote a private business. Both of these happened on Sunday. 

In a Facebook post, the "County of Northampton" on Sunday posted a message that promotes Executive Tara Zrinski's proposed tax hike with the argument that seniors and the disabled can apply to the state for a rebate. This leaves the realm of information and goes into advocacy to promote a tax hike that has yet to be adopted by the governing body. If the County Exec wishes to engage in advocacy or self-promotion, she should do so from her own Facebook page and use her own resources, not a communications director employed by the county. 

Even more disturbing than the position advocacy or self-promotion, the county's official Facebook page was also used to promote a real estate agent who could "help" you determine what your home is worth. This real estate agent then misrepresents that there is only one county hearing on Zrinski's proposed tax hike. "Just reach out to me, I'm your neighbor. .... If you're a homeowner in Northampton County, I'm here to help," says the real estate agent. 

There will actually be five budget hearings before adoption, rejection or amendment of the Proposed 2027 budget. They will happen on October 21, 2026, October 28, 2026, November 4, 2026, and November 18, 2026 and December 3, 2026. All the October and November meetings will be at 4:30 p.m. The December 3 meeting will start at 6:30 pm.

County Council's social media policy ordinance should bar the use of a government page from promoting elected officials or advocating issues that have yet to be decided by the governmental body. It should be used instead to share useful information about the county and its departments. 

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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousOctober 13, 2026 at 1:05 AM

    Ah, the perfect plan to push seniors out of their homes - hike their taxes and then refer them to a realtor when they can’t pay.

    Vote democrat!

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