WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Whitehall Township will spend nearly $900,000 to buy radios and associated hardware for the township’s emergency services personnel.
The still-to-be-answered question: What will be the method of payment? Will the $879,174.06 payment come from the township’s 2026 budget or from the township’s Lafarge Fund?
Or will it come from a combination?
“The county has received commitments from all of the municipalities — volunteers and paid responders — on what their needs are and how many of each type of radio they need.”Whitehall Township Deputy Mayor John Meyers
That will be decided in November when the township approves its 2026 budget.
The township board of commissioners addressed the payment options during a workshop session Monday.
Further discussion will be held at the full meeting of the board of commissioners Monday.
Whichever plan is chosen, the payment will be made to Lehigh County, which created financing for the bulk purchase of radios for the emergency responders in municipalities throughout the county.
The new radio purchases became necessary as the county has begun converting to a more effective digital system.
The transition has been ongoing the past five years. Every local agency in the county communicates on the same frequency.
“The county has received commitments from all of the municipalities — volunteers and paid responders — on what their needs are and how many of each type of radio they need,” township Deputy Mayor John Meyers said.
Budget or Lafarge Fund?
Township Commissioner Ken Snyder said one option is for the township to pay the county in full, with funds from its 2026 budget.
The new radios would be delivered to emergency services personnel by year’s end, per the county’s plan.
Whitehall Township has the option to repay the debt to the county interest free over five years, beginning in 2026, at $175,834.81 annually each June. Municipalities reserve the option to also pay back the funding at an accelerated rate.Lehigh County agreement
The $1.2 million Lafarge Fund is a restricted capital fund established in 1998 when Lafarge North America, a subsidiary of LafargeHolcim, opened a quarry in the township.
The fund was created as part of the agreement for the quarry opening, with a part of the value of the land under Bridge Street transferred to the township.
The township has used the fund, and the interest it generates, for various capital projects and equipment purchases over the years.
The county has a promissory note/agreement to offer zero-interest financing for any entity interested over five years or a 10-year payback plan at 5% interest, Meyers said.
Whitehall Township has the option to repay the debt to the county interest free over five years, beginning in 2026, at $175,834.81 annually each June.
Municipalities reserve the option to also pay back the funding at an accelerated rate.
