During the Oct. 22 meeting of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, the 2026 budget was unanimously approved and adopted.

Despite the unanimous approval, there were some conflicting opinions shared between Commissioners Jon Irons and Ron Beitler when discussing the 2026 budget. In previous meetings, Commissioner Jeffrey Dutt explained the 2026 budget proposed another year with no increase to real estate taxes. While Irons explained his lack of excitement on this point still wouldn’t prompt him to vote against the budget, he wanted to note the cut to a revenue stream without an increases to taxes.

On the other side, Beitler said he is celebrating a budget that doesn’t include a property tax increase as he thinks it speaks to how “surgical” they were with the budget in other areas.

Chief Fiscal Officer Tim Reeves took to the podium to provide updates regarding the current financial situation as it relates to an unresolved state budget. He explained that, after a conversation with Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong, the agreed-upon approach will be to “manage finances very tightly” through the remainder of the year.

This option won over taking out a loan to cover the remaining costs for 2025, knowing there would be the need for another loan required at the beginning of 2026. Reeves explained approximately $40-$60 million will be borrowed in early 2026 to replace the reserves and give a few months of additional cash flow.

Chair Geoff Brace questioned Reeves’ opinion on how other counties have chosen to make a statement by withholding certain fees to the state.

“I never like to resolve a problem with three other problems,” Reeves answered, expressing he doesn’t recommend it.

Senior Legal Counsel for Lehigh County Catharine Roseberry further provided an example as to the ramifications of withholding payments toward identified human services. She noted payments would incur a $1,000/day penalty. This penalty is confirmed as Lehigh County has been subject to paying this penalty in the past for accidental delinquency.

Reeves also outlined his thoughts on a solution to the financial stresses that have accompanied this budget impasse and could be applied should another similar situation occur in the future. His plan elicited support from many of the commissioners, and they will look to further develop these ideas into a resolution, which will be discussed in the November meetings.

Continuing with the regularly scheduled agenda items, a couple of bills received their second reading and were unanimously approved, including the approval of disbursal of affordable housing trust funds to four different organizations.

From another temporary discretionary overtime bonus program within the department of corrections and 911 communication centers to the approval of four male bison being donated from the Lehigh Valley Zoo to the Wildlife Restoration Foundation for transfer to a member of the Intertribal Buffalo Council, a total of five new business items received their first read and will be reviewed once more during the Nov. 12 regularly scheduled board of commissioners meeting.

During the approval of the Oct. 8 meeting minutes, Brace spotted a virtual hand raised by a participant in the Zoom call. Brace reiterated the virtual participation rule is in effect, and, in order to yield the floor to a non-registered participant, a two-thirds vote by the commissioners would be required to suspend the rule.

A motion was made and passed with a two-thirds majority vote, receiving support from most except Commissioners Dutt and Antonio Pineda.

As such, Ed Angelo was given the opportunity to speak. Angelo took the opportunity to once again note his objection to having to preregister a desire to comment. He questioned how anyone could comply with such an ordinance, as it may pertain to a non-agenda item or perhaps to an event that occurs earlier in the day of a regularly scheduled meeting.

Brace explained the board has the opportunity to suspend the rule and make a motion as they just had done. In addition, Brace said the law binds the meeting agenda to be set 24 hours in advance, further explaining how the ordinance links to the 24-hour window for registration to comment.

The next Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meeting will take place 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 in person at the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown, and virtually via a Zoom link on the county commissioners website.