EASTON, Pa. — Northampton County Council proposed measures at its final budget hearing Tuesday that would strip all of the money allocated to IronPigs Charities from the 2023 county budget and spend it elsewhere.
Several council members cited Allentown’s recent decision not to fund MLB-mandated improvements to Coca-Cola Park, where the IronPigs play, as the root of their desire not to give the organization any money.
- Northampton County Council has proposed redirecting funds previously sent to IronPigs Charities to other organizations
- One reason for redirecting the funds is that Allentown City Council has stopped its funding of the IronPigs
- The final vote on the Northampton County budget will be in December
Members also expressed concern that the money budgeted for the team’s charitable organization would go toward those stadium repairs.
“The big thing that's bothering me is that the city of Allentown has said ‘no,’” said County Council Vice President Kerry Myers. “It's their baby. And they said no.”
“It's listed as IronPigs Charities, and it's for improvements to the facility. I said this before, I have a real problem with that. If you're asking for renovations don't use charities as a front,” he said.
“Coca Cola Park is located in Lehigh County, number one,” said Commissioner John Cusick. “Number two, the municipality in which it is located, Allentown, chose not to fund it at all. So the combination of those two things puts me in opposition to funding this.”
Cusick introduced an amendment to the proposed 2023 county budget taking $100,000 earmarked for IronPigs Charities, potentially to fund a study on the future of the out-of-commission bridge into Hugh Moore Park in Easton.
“The big thing that's bothering me is that the city of Allentown has said ‘no.' It's their baby. And they said no.”Northampton County Council Vice President Kerry Myers
Other amendments would allocate $20,000 for Bath Borough to create a long-term parks and recreation plan. $5,000 would go to two Bethlehem performing arts venues.
The $50,000 left over was shifted back into a fund for future grants, freed up for later use.
Representatives from Allentown City Council and the IronPigs weren't immediately available for comment.
Genesis Ortega, communications manager for Allentown, said "The [Mayor Matt Tuerk] administration disagreed with Allentown City Council’s decision," saying they hoped council would have funded the IronPigs.
The proposed budget amendments will go before county council for a final vote next month.
