Lower Saucon’s 2025 budget has no tax hikes; council minority says plan is 'incomplete, illegal'

LOWER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Township Council on Wednesday approved its 2025 budget with no increase in its real estate tax, following the lead of some of its Northampton County neighbors.

During a 6.5-hour meeting, the panel majority gave a nod to an associated tax rate of 5.14 mills — that’s 4.24 general-purpose mills and 0.9-of-a-mill in fire tax.

That means the owner of a home with a tax valuation of $100,000 will pay $514 in property tax and $90 for emergency services courtesy of Lower Saucon Fire Rescue.

The vote was 3-1-1, with Councilman Thomas Carocci dissenting and Councilman Jason Banonis abstaining. They both argued the budget was incomplete, and arguably illegal, as presented.

A balanced spending plan at $17.1 million, with nearly $11 million in the general fund, included some notable figures:

• $2.3 million in host fees from Bethlehem Landfill
• $20,000 in contributions paid to the Saucon Valley Compost Center to allow no-fee use for Lower Saucon residents
• $130,000 for full township access to Hellertown Area Library (approved during the meeting)
• $1.97 million in property tax revenue
• Nearly $4 million allocated for township police operations. The township plans to hire another detective and invest in police vehicles and other equipment, such as a new license-plate reader
• $235,000 for general use and recruitment and retention for Lower Saucon Fire Rescue

The township also plans to complete the rehabilitation of Seidersville Hall, put up a playground at Southeastern Park, install a restroom along the Saucon Rail Trail, fix the trail at Polk Valley Park and add space to the Public Works garage, according to a budget statement written up by Acting Township Manager Cathy Gorman.

Here’s the most recent version of the proposed new-year budget. Keep in mind there were a few changes on the table prior to the budget’s final bid for approval, including making room for workers’ compensation expenses for the volunteer fire department, vehicle insurance and library services.

Back-and-forth

Banonis and Carocci said the budget failed to include potential settlement for litigation with Bethlehem Landfill related to alleged Sunshine Act violations by the council majority from earlier this year.

“I remain convinced that this budget is improper,” Banonis said.

“We should at least have the landfill lawsuit budgeted for — seems like an illegal budget to me,” Carocci said. “Not surprising coming from this majority of Democrats doing something illegal, corrupt."

Councilwoman Victoria Opthof-Cordaro said of the current council minority: “There were plenty of attempts throughout this past year to handcuff our township.

"Especially in December of last year, when [the previous council majority] knew they had major expenses coming up, that they were going to try to reduce our taxes to nothing, at a disservice to our residents.

“So I’m proud that we’re able to do this without a tax increase, and I look forward to accomplishing the items that we have budgeted for next year.”

“Next year, I hope we can do the process a little smoother,” Councilwoman Laura Ray said.

An 'improper' budget

In previous budget discussions, Banonis cited Wolk vs. Lower Merion School District — a case from 2016 surrounding a proposed 4.4% tax increase for the school district in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County.

After the district was found to be, over time, using illegal budgeting practices and had accumulated tens of millions of dollars in surplus funds, the overseeing judge approved a $27 million total settlement for respective taxpayers.

Banonis has said he doesn't want the township to find itself in a similar legal situation, citing its millions in current reserves.

On Dec. 6, 2023, the previous council panel — with a 4-1 Republican majority and a respective vote falling along party lines — approved the township’s 2024 budget with a real estate tax cut from 4.39 to 3.64 mills. The fire services tax was set at 0.75 of a mill.

Then-Council President Banonis pitched the idea, even proposing officials to slash the millage rate from 4.39 mills to 2 mills at a meeting the month prior. That motion ultimately failed.

In January, Banonis even suggested bringing the real estate millage rate to 0 and leaving the fire tax rate at 0.75 of a mill. That idea never took off among the majority of his constituents on the panel.

In 2024, with a new Democratic council majority of 3-2, the budget was reopened. The majority voted to reverse the tax cut approved by the previous panel, placing the tax rates where they are currently.