Lehigh County commissioners have approved the 2019-23 Capital Plan which will set investments in capital projects through 2023.

Commissioner Dr. Percy Dougherty, who sponsored the plan, said the $129.1 million spending proposal is higher than previous years as it contains about $73 million for the planned Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehabilitation renovation.

In other business at the Aug. 8 meeting, commissioners reappointed Bill McQuilken of Lynn Township to the Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Board.

Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong spoke to commissioners in support of his proposed $5 per vehicle per year registration fee which he described as the price of a cup of coffee.

Armstrong said he would give up a cup of coffee to ensure the county has safe bridges and roads.

He said the fee, combined with an expected state subsidy of $2 million, will help the county and its political subdivisions repair infrastructure.

Armstrong noted during his visits to various city and township meetings over the past six months people at most of those meetings have asked him when a particular road or bridge will be repaired.

Armstrong said Lehigh County has 13 bridges considered to be deficient.

He added Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Tony Iannelli considers good infrastructure to be essential for local commerce.

He emphasized county residents who own a vehicle and make less than $19,200 annually will not have to pay this fee.

Also, residents who do not own vehicles will not pay the fee.

Armstrong said the fee, “not a tax,” will raise about $1.5 million per year for the county.

“It will require a sacrifice from everyone who owns a car,” Armstrong said. “They are going to have to buy one less cup of Starbucks coffee per year.”