Northampton County proposes $46.7M budget for FY2026, avoids tax hike but taps reserves

Auditor critiques proposed tax hike in analysis of Walsh's budget

City Auditor Alex Marion in an analysis of the Mayor Ben Walsh’s final proposed budget criticized the mayor’s proposed 2% tax hike. Walsh proposed the tax increase as the city has struggled to fill a structural deficit in its budget. The mayor’s proposed budget suggested pulling about $27 million from the city’s reserve funds to pay for basic city services. Marion acknowledged the difficult decisions the city will have to make as American Rescue…

Northampton County proposes $46.7M budget for FY2026, avoids tax hike but taps reserves

Northampton County Finance Director John D. Chandler delivered a comprehensive presentation on expenditures in the proposed FY2026 budget at Tuesday night’s work session. The proposed FY2026 budget totals $46.7 million, marking an increase of $2.36 million over the FY2025 adopted budget. Key drivers of this increase include a 3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a 1.5% bonus effective July 1, 2025, and ...