ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown residents again will avoid a property-tax increase after Mayor Matt Tuerk on Thursday proposed a 2025 budget that would keep that rate flat.
The mayor and city Finance Director Bina Patel said they are not asking for a tax raise because Tuerk’s 2025 budget proposal includes a $190 raise in residents’ annual trash fees.
The proposal maintains the city’s “commitment” to providing quality services to residents and invests in its existing staff, Tuerk said.
It includes no new positions.
Allentown officials were able to balance the 2025 budget proposal without raising taxes because the city is set to bring in $6.2 million more than projected this year, Patel said.
“Regional growth is something that buoys us here in Allentown."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
That was driven by a higher-than-expected return on the city’s investments and a significant increase in Allentown’s total assessed property value.
Recent developments such as 1010 Hamilton Street and 615 Waterfront have added tens of millions of dollars to the city’s value, boosting its tax receipts without raising the rate, Tuerk said.
The city saw a similar trend with more residents working — and paying the earned-income tax.
“Regional growth is something that buoys us here in Allentown,” the mayor said.
'Smooth' process ahead?
Tuerk presented his 2025 budget proposal Thursday morning from Allentown City Council's chambers, where he and members of that body will work to finalize the spending plan by Dec. 31.
“Unless council tries to make it political, I don’t anticipate a significant challenge with getting this budget passed."Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk
The mayor is expecting much smoother sailing than during last year’s budgeting process, when council rejected his initial 6.9% proposed tax increase and two smaller proposals.
“I didn’t want to have that stupid fight with council” about the 2024 budget, Tuerk told LehighValleyNews.com. “We want to have a smooth budget process.”
Tuerk said he doesn’t expect a fight with council this time, but that's no guarantee.
“Unless council tries to make it political, I don’t anticipate a significant challenge with getting this budget passed,” he said.
But Tuerk warned council likely will have to raise taxes in 2026, regardless of who’s mayor.
"When we look to the future, I can't anticipate that a 2026 budget would not ask city council to make a real investment" in Allentown's staff, Tuerk said.
Tuerk is seeking re-election in 2025. No candidates have announced a campaign to unseat him, but Councilman Ed Zucal has discussed a potential challenge with residents.
Council President Cynthia Mota in May told Univision host Jorge Ramos that she would “love” to be Allentown's mayor one day.
The mayor is scheduled to present an overview of his budget directly to council Oct. 30, with budget meetings also slated for Nov. 6 and Nov. 20.
Council could approve the 2025 budget Dec. 4. The budget must be passed by Dec. 31.
