Lehigh County residents in 2015 would have seen an $8 reduction in their county tax bill had it not been for county Executive Tom Muller vetoing a $1.25 million tax cut Oct. 27.

At a news conference held Monday, Muller announced the vetoing of the $1.25 million tax cut, along with half a dozen budget amendments, including the capping of wage increases, an incentive-based bonus plan for non-union employees and the elimination of bonuses for longtime employees.

Prior to Muller's announcement, the board of commissioners at the Oct. 24 meeting approved the 2015 budget by a vote of 7-2.

The budget included 16 amendments, including a $1.25-million tax cut.

Voting in opposition were commissioners Geoff Brace and David Jones Sr.

The tax break would have come from nearly $1.25 million in budgetary reserves. The budget amounts to $369 million.

Commissioner Percy Dougherty was the only one to offer a public comment on the budget.

"There are sections in there that some of us may not be happy with, but we're voting on the whole package. In general it's a very good package," he said.

County Executive Tom Muller, who has been opposed to the county employee amendments, has said they will lead non-union employees to organize in support of unionization.

A super majority vote by commissioners is required to override the vetoes.