ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown officials closed the book on the 2025 budget season with little fanfare Wednesday night.
City council members unanimously approved a series of various budgets that make up Allentown’s spending plan for next year.
The 2025 budget was essentially passed as Mayor Matt Tuerk presented it, with the property tax rate remaining flat while trash collection fees are to climb significantly.
Residents are set to pay $605 for trash services in 2025, a $190 increase over 2024 rates. Council in October approved a five-year, $90 million contract with J.P. Mascaro & Sons, which will take over trash collection from Waste Management.
“I think we’re going to have a very good 2025."Mayor Matt Tuerk
Members on Wednesday night also approved an expanded trash-fee rebate program for senior residents.
That expansion will see up to 20 times more people qualify than under the program’s previous criteria.
Only 49 people met the city’s requirements that they be 65 or older, own their own homes and earn less than $15,000 a year, officials said.
But senior homeowners making up to $34,450 will be eligible for a discount on trash fees. More than 1,000 people could meet those criteria, according to Public Works Director Mark Shahda.
‘A very good 2025’: Mayor
Tuerk told LehighValleyNews.com that he’s feeling “relief” and “gratitude” after council approved his administration’s 2025 budget Tuesday, though he said he and his staff will soon turn their attention to the 2026 budget.
The mayor said he’s “hopeful about the future” after the city saw “continued growth” and “significant decreases in crime” this year.
“I think we’re going to have a very good 2025,” he said.
This year’s budget process went much more smoothly than last year’s, which greatly strained the working relationship between the mayor and council.
Tuerk clashed with some members over several proposed property tax increases before the mayor vetoed council’s budget, which didn’t raise taxes.
Council failed to override that veto but passed an unbalanced budget without a tax increase, one that Tuerk let take effect without his signature.
Finance Director Bina Patel warned last year that residents would see a double-digit tax hike in 2025 without an increase in 2024.
Allentown residents are poised to again dodge a tax increase in 2025 after the city earned about $6 million more than projected in 2024.
