Northampton County property owners will see no county tax hike next year. By an 8-1 vote, County Council voted December 5 to adopt Executive Lamont McClure’s $445 million spending plan for 2020. The tax rate will remain 11.8 mills, where it’s been for the past five years. A home assessed at $75,000 will receive a tax bill next year for $885.

This is McClure’s second budget as County Executive, and the second time he’s held the line on taxes.

“A no tax increase budget for a second year in a row is an accomplishment Council can be proud of,” McClure said in a news release issued immediately after the budget was adopted. “We’ve cut the budget nearly 6 percent without reducing vital services. We are investing $3 million to preserve farmland, environmentally sensitive land and investing in parks. In our fight against warehouse proliferation our administration has already invested $6 million. Finally, we are keeping our commitment to maintain Gracedale as a County-owned-and-operated facility and, once again, Gracedale will not require any money from the county’s general fund to operate.”

Gracedale may require no county contribution next year, but council member John Cusick believe it’s operating with a structural deficit. He was the lone budget dissenter. He also objected to the inconsistent way the county manages hotel tax grants. His biggest complaint was 9.2 percent payhike for Gracedale Administrator Jennifer Stewart-King.

Under the adopted budget, her wages will jump from $102,291 to $111,704. Cusick said this is “insulting” to other Gracedale workers who will see three per cent raises or less. He added that Gracedale’s rating remains unchanged and its census may be dropping.

Executive McClure countered that Stewart-King is actually underpaid compared to Administrators at nearby nursing homes. He cited salaries ranging from $132,000 to $175,000 at nearby homes. “We don’t want to lose her, argued Council member Bill McGee. Council member Kevin Lott added that Stewart-King “came up through the ranks.” Finally, Council member Lori Vargo-Heffner noted that Stewart-King has brought about positive changes at Gracedale, including electronic health records, and is turning morale around. She agreed that Gracedale’s rating remains unchanged, but that’s because the county nursing home will accept anyone. “We will not turn people away,” she said.

Joining Cusick in opposing this payraise were Council members Matt Dietz and Bob Werner. They opposed the salary increase, but later voted for the budget.

McClure is spending 5.6 percent less than he did last year. Part of the reason for that is because the county is no longer paying a triple net lease for its human services building, located in Bethlehem Township. It now owns it. In addition, thanks to a refunding of county bonds, the annual debt service has dropped.

Though spending has been reduced, McClure wants to spend $2.6 million of the county’s reserve, or rainy day, fund. This is to help pay for new voting machines mandated by Governor Tom Wolf’s Department of State. The state is expected to reimburse the county around 60 percent of the cost.

McClure added the budget fully funds a “disastrous public private partnership” for the repair or replacement of 27 bridges. The private contractor has missed several milestone markers and the Executive anticipates “much debate and discussion” next year over what appears o be a stalled project.

The budget also includes a 2.5 percent raise for its career service, or nonunion workers. Union workers are paid in accordance with separate contracts, and most bargaining units will see a 2 percent raise next year.

This is the last budget prepared by Budget Administrator Doran J Hamann. This Lehigh University MBA retired in November after 40 years of service to Northampton County. He was nevertheless at last night’s meeting as well as the budget hearings preceding the final vote.