- Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk revealed his proposed 2024 budget for the city on Monday
- Under the $229 million plan, the city’s property tax millage would rise a half-mill — a 6.9% increase — and trash and recycling collection fees would jump $120
- Tuerk's proposal also sets aside $10 million in federal pandemic-relief funds to rebuild facilities for the police and fire departments
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown mayor Matt Tuerk is eyeing what he calls “small” increases to some taxes and fees to help the city better serve its residents.
Tuerk laid out his 2024 spending plan Monday during a news conference at Allentown City Hall.
His $229 million budget proposal includes raising the city’s millage rate by a half-mill — a 6.9% increase in the city’s real-estate tax rate — and a $120 jump in yearly trash and recycling collection fees.
“I think even if I had New York City’s ARPA funds, it might be challenging to meet all of our capital needs."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
Those increases would help cover the costs of adding new employees across many city services, including 12 new firefighters, five new workers in the parks and recreation department and several other positions.
“If we want to do more, we have to find a way to pay for it,” Tuerk said of his proposed increases.
'Aging city'
Allentown is an “aging city” with aging infrastructure, Tuerk said, adding there’s a “desperate need to invest” in several large facilities.
His budget proposal sets aside $10 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to rebuild Central Fire Station and the Allentown Police Department’s patrol station at 10th and Hamilton streets.
“I think even if I had New York City’s ARPA funds, it might be challenging to meet all of our capital needs,” he said.
Central Fire Station was a car dealership about a century ago before it was converted into a firehouse. Its smaller garage doors limit which vehicles the department can use there, Deputy Fire Chief Christian Williams told Allentown City Council earlier this year.
“Structurally speaking, it is actually falling apart,” he said in July.
At the same meeting, Police Chief Charles Roca said the patrol station “has been a problem since we moved in.” The city has funded numerous repairs there, but the roof continues to leak and development in the area is causing parking issues, Roca said.
Conditions at the patrol station “discourage” potential recruits from joining the Allentown Police Department, where there’s “a desperate need to fill the existing ranks,” Tuerk said Monday.
Roca said earlier this year the department was well short of its “full complement” of 233 officers. No new police positions are included in Tuerk’s 2024 budget proposal, but salaries for those employees are set to rise by more than $800,000.
Total costs for the department would rise about 4% to eclipse $45 million.
“City services are provided by people working for people,” he said, quoting former Mayor Frank Fischl. “So let me be very clear: the 2024 budget of the city of Allentown is an investment in people.”
The tax and fee increases are also needed to "effectively manage" Allentown’s finances, as the city has only once raised real estate tax taxes over the past 20 years, he said.
The mayor's presentation marks the start of the 2024 budget season.
Allentown City Council is set to review Tuerk’s proposal several times over the next three weeks, with budget meetings scheduled for Oct. 25, Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 4.
Council Vice President Cynthia Mota encouraged residents to come to the meetings to share what they think should be in the city's annual spending plan.
Council must adopt a budget by Dec. 31.
