EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County’s proposed 2025 budget, introduced Tuesday, would cut county spending 9% while keeping property taxes flat, according to officials.
Residents would continue to pay 10.8 mills, or $10.80 on every $1,000 of assessed value, for county property taxes.
That means the annual tax bill for a property assessed at $100,000 would again pay $1,080.
"I would like to cut taxes in the next budget. I just have to make sure it’s the prudent thing to do."Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure
In all, the county plans to spend about $502 million next year.
The latest proposal from County Executive Lamont McClure makes three consecutive years of unchanged tax rates and shrinking budgets, potentially setting up tax cuts next year. McClure last lowered taxes in 2022.
“I would like to cut taxes in the next budget. I just have to make sure it’s the prudent thing to do," he said. “I have to wait and see when the books close on 2024 in February. About February of 2025, I’ll be able to tell whether we can cut taxes again.”
In addition to the spending cuts, the budget proposal would raise wages for all non-union county employees by 4.5%. Each bargaining unit of unionized employees negotiates pay separately.
Despite the raises, the county expects to spend less on salaries in 2025 than in 2024, in part by slashing the amount of overtime employees work.
This is a developing report and will be updated.
