EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Council passed a $70,866,050 balanced budget with no tax increase for 2026 at its Wednesday meeting.
The vote came after council took the opportunity to finalize a few final financial swaps before getting the budget across the finish line.
Wrapping up just in time to avoid having to hold another budget session, council unanimously approved the budget at $22,244 under 2025’s figure.
That means 2026 will see a $361,043 increase to the general fund; $98,929 increase in the debt service fund; a $936,085 increase in the health benefits fund; a $135,319 increase in the insurance casualty/property fund; and a $380,684 increase in the wastewater operating fund compared with this year.
The changes are offset by a $56,000 decrease in the highway aid fund; a $1.74 million decrease in the revolving capital fund; a $47,012 decrease in the recreation fund; and a $46,800 decrease in the sewer fund compared with 2025.
And taxes will remain stable for another year, with the rate remaining at 24.95 mills.
But before everything was said and done, council members had a few changes to suggest, particularly in regard to locking down some funding for the upcoming comprehensive plan.
Funding the comp plan
Councilwoman Crystal Rose started the discussion by addressing the $90,000 allocated for the 250th anniversary celebration.
“What I'm asking to be removed is the $15,000 toward the picnic, the $10,000 toward decorations, $10,000 in banners and flags, $5,000 in the billboard, and $5,000 in a mural,” Rose said.
She said such funding could be used more effectively to support better musical acts at Heritage Day, or to help fund the comprehensive plan.
Councilman Frank Pintabone said he felt the same, particularly in regard to the picnic.
“I agree with Councilwoman Rose, with the $15,000 for the cookout, and as it currently was presented yesterday, we're charging residents $2, visitors $10 for hamburgers and hot dogs on the river,” Pintabone said.
“It doesn't make much sense. If there's a majority decision to take that money, I would ask that one of my amendments puts $25,000 toward the comp plan.”
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. said he concurred, but said the city is trying to procure $150,000 from the state to fund the comprehensive plan.
If it doesn't come through, it would put the city in a position to raise the money themselves.
“I believe that you only have one 250th birthday, and since we are the third public reading of the Declaration of Independence, we have a major role to play,” Panto said.
“And I think we should be doing something more than we're doing. Now, if it's just fireworks and projector units, I think we should do more. I think a community picnic is a good idea.”
The reduction later was adjusted to $40,000.
City Administrator Luis Campos later presented an option to council that would maintain the budget figure.
“We reduced the contingency line item by $25,000, and we moved that $25,000 to the comprehensive plan,” Campos said.
“And then within that line item, there's an understanding that only $50,000 would be used for the 250th celebration. There is a delta in there — $25,000, it's contingency, and so it hasn't been accounted for yet.”
'The p-word'
Pintabone also raised concerns over the new parking rates in the city, suggesting a five-cent increase in non-prime parking spots — anywhere outside Centre Square and the spokes, as well as the garages.
“My thing is, once you get to $3 it sounds horrible," Panto said. "It sounds worse than it is. Two dollars and fifty cents doesn't sound as much.”
Councilman Roger Ruggles agreed, saying “$2.80 just makes it more complicated, I think, for people,” and questioned how much revenue the increase would even produce.
It was later stated that the effort could raise $117,000 in a year.
Pintabone said that could also help fund a partial salary for a certified planner to work on the comprehensive plan, in addition to funding a full-time parking enforcement officer.
“You need a certified planner, and you need a new comp plan," he said. "From what I hear from residents, the majority of the time, is they're concerned with the development, the current parking requirements for the development, and it's time to do a comp plan."
After brief discussion over the optics of changing the price, exactly where the rates would change and other details, the council accepted the amendment.
An ADA addition to Milton Park
Pintabone introduced a final amendment to the budget.
“We're going to take $100,000 from open space, and we're going to create the special needs playground so that that program, as we discussed, is going to have swings for children with wheelchairs and children with walkers, sensory boards," he said.
"And it's going to be included in a current park so it's not segregated."
Panto expressed concern over whether such a park project would be used by the community.
He said the location would be paramount to ensuring accessibility for those with disabilities, and that placing it in one neighborhood could spark problems from the other neighborhoods.
Pintabone later told LehighValleyNews.com that the ADA playground would be built in Milton Park.
All amendments were accepted, with council voting unanimously in favor of the budget.
