Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski told county council this month that a property tax increase is “increasingly likely” for the 2027 budget year, citing unfunded obligations she says the prior administration left for her team to address: employee retirement contributions, support for Gracedale nursing home, and county jail operations.
A New Administration Confronts Deferred Costs
Zrinski, who took office in January 2026 following her victory in the 2025 county executive election, addressed county council during a Thursday evening session to lay out the financial picture ahead of the 2027 budget process. She said maintaining services, caring for the county workforce, and catching up on long-delayed infrastructure made a tax increase increasingly clear.
Zrinski said her goal is to keep any increase as modest as possible while governing responsibly. She has not released a specific proposed rate or dollar figure for the increase and is expected to present a full 2027 spending plan to council this fall.
Breaking an Eight-Year Streak
Former County Executive Lamont McClure held the property tax rate flat through all eight years of his tenure, even cutting it once. His final budget, for 2026, also carried no tax increase. A hike in 2027 would be Northampton County's first property tax increase in nearly a decade.
McClure, who did not seek re-election in 2025, left the county's financial stabilization fund with $8.4 million, equal to roughly 6.4 percent of general fund spending. A council attempt last fall to require a higher reserve level of 10 percent failed on a 4-4 tie vote, reflecting ongoing tension between fiscal caution and the desire to avoid tax increases.
Three Areas of Concern
Zrinski identified three specific unfunded obligations. First, the county's contributions to the employee pension system had not been fully accounted for in recent budgets. Second, Gracedale, the county-owned nursing home in Nazareth, needs additional operational support. Third, costs at the Northampton County Jail have grown in ways previous budgets did not address. Together, she said, these gaps make it difficult to hold the line on taxes without cutting services or drawing down reserves to a risky level.
What Residents Can Expect Next
Northampton County's general fund budget for 2026 exceeds $130 million. County executives are required to present a proposed budget to council each fall for approval before year-end. Residents across municipalities including Easton, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Bangor, and the county's many townships will get a clearer picture of any proposed increase when Zrinski presents her full spending proposal, expected in November 2026.
At a Glance
- Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski says a 2027 property tax increase is “increasingly likely.”
- She cited unfunded retirement contributions, Gracedale nursing home support, and county jail costs.
- A tax hike would be the county's first in nearly a decade, ending the streak held by former Executive Lamont McClure.
- No specific rate has been released; a full 2027 budget proposal is expected this fall.
