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Finance committee backs funding to add a second paralegal, administration cites mercantile tax revenue
Summary
The committee recommended placing legislation on May 6 to increase the budget to pay a second full-time paralegal for the solicitor’s office, using an estimated $50,000 from business privilege/mercantile tax revenue this year and proposing permanent inclusion in the 2026 budget.
The Bethlehem City Council Finance Committee voted to recommend legislation placing a budget adjustment on the May 6 council agenda to fund an additional paralegal position in the city solicitor’s office.
Council Chair Grace Krampsey Smith said the solicitor’s office has had one paralegal on staff since 1989 but that “the volume and complexity of city legal matters has increased,” prompting a request to add another full‑time paralegal. The committee approved the administration’s request by roll call.
Administration representatives told the committee they plan to fund the remainder of 2025 with $50,000 from the city’s mercantile/business privilege tax receipts. Mike Evans explained the line item has outperformed expectations this year — “after the first quarter, that particular line item is $371,000 over last year at this same point” — and the administration proposes using part of that one‑time uptick to cover the position through year end and to include the position in the 2026 proposed budget for permanent funding.
Committee members pressed officials on sustainability. Evans said TriState audits identified delinquent taxpayers who were added to the tax rolls, creating ongoing revenue that the administration expects will support the $50,000 this year. He also said the administration will evaluate the position as part of the next annual budget process.
Committee members expressed broad support for increasing clerical capacity across departments. There was no discussion of an exact hire date; the administration said the position will be filled initially as a contract position through 2025 and evaluated for inclusion as a permanent position in 2026.
