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Northampton County Council adopts 2026 budget after debate over regional planning funding
Summary
Council approved the county's 2026 budget and capital plan Dec. 4, 2025, after amending funding to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and voting to adopt pay scales, millage and other budget items. Several public commenters urged support for local grants.
Northampton County Council voted Dec. 4 to adopt the county's 2026 budget as amended, approving the pay scales, capital improvements plan and millage rate after several hours of debate over specific funding requests.
The council adopted the package of budget amendments and the full 2026 budget in separate roll-call votes. The amendments package, which included a reduced allocation to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC), passed 7 to 2; the final adoption of the 2026 budget also passed 7 to 2.
Why it mattered: council members framed the votes as decisions about balancing long-term obligations and targeted local investments. Several members said they worried about pension funding, agency nurse costs, and the county's staffing and pay structure; others argued the county should honor longstanding commitments to regional partners.
Public voices and concerns: during the public comment period, Jeff Young of Suburban EMS asked the council to support his LSA application for an ambulance, describing rising per-call costs and staffing challenges.…
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