Well, Lehigh County residents, you might want to grab a snack, take a deep breath, and check on your wallet. The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners gave the county’s proposed 2027 budget its first approval Wednesday night, and it comes with a property tax increase of nearly 17%. Ouch. That’s one way to make your mailbox feel threatening.

The original budget proposed by County Executive Joshua Siegel called for a tax increase of nearly 18%, raising the millage rate from 3.78 mills to 4.45 mills. In other words, the county’s bills are getting bigger, and unfortunately, they aren’t the kind you can ignore until they magically disappear.

Meanwhile, county commissioners rolled up their sleeves and proposed 11 amendments to the budget, trimming approximately $1.4 million in spending.

Those cuts brought the proposed millage rate down from 4.45 to 4.41 mills. It’s a reduction, sure, but nobody’s exactly throwing a wallet-saving parade just yet.

What Got Cut? The Budget Went on a Diet.

Commissioners made several changes to the proposed spending plan. Some positions and programs made the cut list, while other expenses got trimmed around the edges.

Here’s what happened:

  • Chief of staff position: A proposed job costing $133,020 in salary and benefits was eliminated. The vote was 7-2.
  • Communications director position: Another proposed position, with a price tag of $129,409 in salary and benefits, was also cut. The vote was 7-2.
  • Human resources generalist: A new position costing $98,105 in salary and benefits was eliminated, also by a 7-2 vote.
  • Clean election grant initiative: A proposed $500,000 program that would have used taxpayer money to support political campaigns was cut unanimously. That one got a collective thumbs-down.
  • Open space funding: Commissioners unanimously changed the funding sources for $500,000 in open-space purposes that had been allocated through the gaming budget.
  • Specialized services: The operating budget was reduced by $20,000. Every little bit counts, apparently.
  • Part-time personnel: Another $11,500 was trimmed from this budget line.
  • Public defender's office: Commissioners unanimously approved transferring $108,151 from the county's opioid settlement fund to the full-time personnel budget line for the public defender's office.

The budget is scheduled for its second reading on October 28, so this financial saga isn't quite over. Stay tuned, because apparently even budgets get sequels.

So, Why Are Taxes Going Up?

The proposed tax increase is largely tied to decisions made before he took office and expenses his administration says it cannot control.

The county needs the additional revenue to maintain services residents depend on and address growing financial pressures. And the numbers help explain why officials say the budget is under strain.

County tax revenue has remained nearly flat since 2011, while expenses have been climbing. From 2018 through 2026, revenue increased by 12%, but expenditures jumped by 28%.

That’s a pretty awkward financial balancing act: money coming in is taking the stairs while money going out is sprinting up the escalator.

The county also wants to rebuild its financial reserves with a $5 million contribution to its fund balance. Think of it as the government's emergency savings account — because even county governments need a rainy-day fund.

And then there’s health care. The administration projects annual health care cost increases of 11.8% under the proposed 2027 spending plan. Apparently, even the county's expenses have decided to keep up with inflation.

Raises, Pensions, and Other Expensive Business

The proposed budget also includes several major personnel and operating expenses.

These include:

  • A 3% salary increase for nonunion employees.
  • A $21 million contribution to the county pension plan.
  • An additional $6.7 million to cover rising operating costs across county departments.

The budget also sets aside $5 million to address a financial shortfall at Cedarbrook Nursing Home.

Other proposed spending includes a driver's license monitoring system to track employee driving records, membership in the International City/County Management Association, attendance at the organization's annual conference, and an employee engagement and appreciation program.

Yes, the budget even includes employee appreciation. Because apparently, in addition to keeping the county running, somebody also has to make sure everyone feels appreciated while the spreadsheets cry quietly in the corner.

The Bottom Line

Lehigh County's 2027 budget is still making its way through the approval process, and commissioners have already made several changes to the original proposal. The cuts lowered the proposed millage rate slightly, but the plan still includes a property tax increase of nearly 17%.

The additional revenue is needed to cover rising expenses, maintain services, and rebuild financial reserves. For residents, however, the big question is how the final budget will affect their household finances.

The next chapter arrives October 28, when the budget gets its second reading.

Until then, Lehigh County taxpayers may want to keep an eye on the calendar, follow the budget debate, and perhaps give their wallets a little pep talk. They're going to need it.