This afternoon I attended the presentation of the 2026 draft County Of Lehigh budget by Executive Phil Armstrong. This is the first step in a months long budget process. The Budget now comes before the Board of Commissioners for a series of hearings and potential amendments.
At first glance, I’m supportive of the Administration’s draft budget. Executive Armstrong has presented the Board of Commissioners a no tax increase, balanced budget that maintains a healthy stabilization fund.
The proposed budget keeps key county priorities moving forward:
• Maintains a fully funded farmland preservation program.
• Completes new wing at Cedarbrook, our 5-star public nursing home.
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Funds a major bridge renovation in Washington Township and a complete replacement in Slatington.• Provides 911 radio upgrades — receiving, programming, and distributing the new system for emergency services.
• In District 2, funds a new roof and facility upgrades at Lockridge Furnace, paving the way for future renovation and reopening for public access.
• Adding another prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office.
• Added an 11th Judge to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas to address the county’s increased caseload from population growth.
The budget proposal reflects a goal of living within our means as a county government. As we move forward with our budget hearings we’ll continue to scrutinize the entire 1000 page document. I would most likely oppose any amendments that increase spending — and certainly any that would require raising taxes to fund.
𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀. Holding the line on taxes is the most responsible path forward for Lehigh County. As of now it appears to be a bi-partisan effort to eliminate any fluff.