ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Lehigh County commissioners held their first reading Wednesday of the ordinance enacting the county’s 2026 budget, a final step before voting on the proposal this month.
The proposed budget, introduced in late August, keeps county property taxes the same at 3.78 mills, or $378 due for every $100,000 of a property’s tax assessment value.
In all, it lays out $544 million in spending, about $10 million more than the 2025 budget.
“We have worked really hard with the administration, with the executive, with [Lehigh County Chief Fiscal Officer Tim] Reeves and all his staff in our fiscal office to bring forth a no-tax-increase budget."Lehigh County Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt
The proposal includes funding for a handful of new positions, including an additional county judge, two administrative roles and 11 non-administrative jobs.
Overall, personnel costs rose about $3 million as all non-union employees moved up a step on the county’s pay scale.
“We have worked really hard with the administration, with the executive, with [Lehigh County Chief Fiscal Officer Tim] Reeves and all his staff in our fiscal office to bring forth a no-tax-increase budget,” Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt said.
Final budget vote coming
During his budget address in August, Lehigh County Executive Phil Armstong called his proposal a “no fluff” budget aimed at holding down spending and avoiding a tax increase.
In September, the board’s finance committee held a pair of hearings to review the budget in detail with county staff.
“It's been a pleasure to have the administration and the commissioners kind of in sync as we go through this process. I hope that that continues as things get a little bit more challenging.”Lehigh County Financial Manager Tim Reeves
Commissioners could propose changes to the administration’s budget proposal through last week, but members offered none. The proposal has not changed since Armstrong submitted it.
“It's been a pleasure to have the administration and the commissioners kind of in sync as we go through this process,” said Reeves, the county’s financial manager.
“I hope that that continues as things get a little bit more challenging.”
According to financial staff, running the county will get more expensive in the coming years as the costs of employee healthcare, contracted human services, medical care at the county jail and juvenile probation continue to rise.
County commissioners will seek public comment on the budget one final time during a hearing at 7:15 Oct. 22.
The body is scheduled to hold a final vote to enact the budget during their regular board meeting later that night.
