Lehigh County commissioners do not want a tax increase in 2015.

At the Jan. 22 meeting, the board presented a non-binding resolution stating it wants the county budget balanced in a sustainable manner.

The board approved the resolution 8-0. Absent from the meeting was Commissioner Tom Creighton.

Commissioner Michael Schware authored the resolution, which aims to avoid an increase in taxes for county residents and businesses, while placing more money in the county's surplus fund.

The resolution also attempts to provide county Executive Tom Muller enough time to draft a budget agreeable with the commissioners.

"I look at this resolution as a first step in what will likely be a yearlong budget process," Schware said.

Commissioner Percy Dougherty supported the resolution, indicating commissioners should begin working on next year's budget as soon as possible.

"It's good if we start early like this and work with the administration," Dougherty said.

Commissioner Brad Osborne said the challenge is to reduce the nearly $8 million deficit.

Without an adequate plan to resolve the deficit, Osborne said the board will likely have to deal with the very real possibility of increasing taxes.

Commissioner Vic Mazziotti reminded the board the resolution is not a specific directive Muller must follow, but rather a look at what commissioners would like the 2015 budget to look like.

Muller compared the resolution to a Christmas wish list addressed to Santa Claus. There is about $10 million in cuts included in the board's wish list.

According to Muller, $10 million would help erase the deficit.

In other business, homeless advocate Diane Teti of Allentown told commissioners the Allentown YMCA and YWCA, 425 S. 15th St., will be providing temporary shelter to homeless in the area during the winter months.

Teti said the shelter services offered by the YMCA and YWCA are needed, emphasizing to commissioners the recent cold weather in the Lehigh Valley has impacted those living on the streets.

Muller said the county intervenes in cases when a emergency is declared by a city, such as Allentown.