The Lehigh County Board of Commissioners struck down an amendment that would have awarded benefits to partners of county employees who are in a same-sex relationship.

At the Nov. 11 meeting, Commissioner Vic Mazziotti said he could not support the amendment because the state of Pennsylvania does not recognize same-sex marriage. He also said his religious background prevents him from supporting such benefits.

"I'm a Catholic," Mazziotti said. "If I were to agree with this, I would be condoning the act."

District Attorney Jim Martin, who is also Catholic, said voting in favor of the amendment is the right thing to do.

"I think it should be instead viewed as a matter of fairness and equality to our employees," said Martin, who is not a board member.

County Executive Matthew Croslis echoed Martin's comment, saying supporting benefits to same-sex couples would be a step forward in preventing discrimination in the county.

"I'm a practicing Catholic as well," Croslis said. "My children go to Catholic school. Our policy discriminates."

Only Commissioners David Jones Sr. and Daniel McCarthy voted in favor of granting the benefits.

The commissioners also did not pass an amendment that would have pulled funding from the regional crime center.

The new center, according to Martin, has helped solve three homicides in the Lehigh Valley to date.

Mazziotti said it is difficult to support the regional crime center when its operation costs have increased by 50 percent.

Martin said the regional crime center was never envisioned to be operated by a single employee, as the commissioners believe, but rather by a team of experts.

"I hate to see costs going up, but I'd also hate to see crime going up," Commissioner Percy Dougherty said. "There is so much potential in this."

McCarthy said the program aids the county in keeping the public safe, one of the primary responsibilities of the board.

Jones said voting against the regional crime center would send a message the commissioners do not support the work the center does.

Voting against overriding the veto were Jones, Dougherty and McCarthy.

Commissioners also voted and approved to restore the 10 percent cut to IT originally sought by the commissioners.

Board President Lisa Scheller said the county is in a precarious financial position. She said if the county continues with its current levels of spending, the tax increase for 2015 could range from 25 to 35 percent.

"This budget puts our reserves at very low levels," she said.

The board meets next at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 26 in the public hearing room of the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.