Despite a $7 million budget shortfall, Lehigh County commissioners passed the 2014 budget with Cedarbrook Nursing Home in mind.

The budget, which passed 7-2, keeps property taxes at 3.79 mills.

Voting in opposition were Commissioners David S. Jones Sr. and Daniel McCarthy.

The board also transferred $3.6 million from the general fund to the county nursing home in South Whitehall.

"We're only talking about three weeks of operation there," Commissioner Vic Mazziotti said, noting the total budget of the nursing home is $6 million. "We will be looking at expenditures of Cedarbrook more carefully."

Mazziotti said commissioners were recently informed of the challenges Cedarbrook has experienced regarding a decreased population.

"The administration did not inform us of these problems," he said. "We know we don't have a choice but to appropriate this money."

Mazziotti asked Cedarbrook employees to work collaboratively with commissioners to come up with solutions in the future.

He also suggested commissioners reconsider implementing a cash reward program previously offered by the county for presenting suggestions for resolving administrative problems with the nursing home.

The approved budget also transfers $200,000 from the general fund to the coroner's office.

"It seems like with the aging of the population, the coroner's office is getting busier all the time," Commissioner Percy Dougherty said.

Also during the meeting, District Attorney Jim Martin remained a stern voice for maintaining funding for both the regional crime center and the county information technology department.

The approved budget strips $250,000 from the regional crime center and $400,000 from the information technology department.

Martin stressed the importance of the regional crime center in playing a prominent role in solving three homicide cases.

He also said the information technology department is a vital resource on which his office relies.

"Now is not the time to take four or five employees from that [IT] section ... they are all needed," Martin said.

The next commissioners' meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in the county government center, 17 S. 7th St., Allentown.