Republican Lehigh County commissioners banded together forcing a tax cut commissioners on the other side of the aisle and county Executive Phillips Armstrong did not want and warned against.

The vote keeps real estate taxes at last year’s millage rate of 3.64, opposing the administration’s plan to raise the millage rate to 3.79 mills.

“It will be vetoed … as soon as it gets to my desk,” said Armstrong in an interview following the Oct. 24 board meeting.

The vote may be veto proof as Republicans control the board of commissioners.

Armstrong said the budget just passed cannot be done and still maintain Government Finance Officers Association standards, which identifies specific policies and procedures needed to minimize a government’s exposure to potential loss in connection with its financial management activities.

Moreover, according to Armstrong, it is a budget that will “cause us to lose our [credit] rating according to Moody’s Investor Service.”

Weisenberg Township resident Bob Elbich said the new budget was all about politics.

“Once again the majority party [Republican] of the commissioners has kicked the can down the road with this budget and totally thrown out the window good common sense and good fiscal management,” Elbich said. “You’re going to raid our savings account of $12 million in order to make this budge.

“You have full knowledge that by reducing the reserves it increases the risk to the county and the taxpayers.”

Commissioner Amy Zanelli echoed Armstrong’s warnings.

“We cannot vote to increase our expenditures, which we are doing by about $12 million and change while we do not increase our revenue and expect our stabilization fund to remain at a level where we can borrow in a fiscally responsible way,” Zanelli said. “That’s not an equation for success.”

Commissioner Chairman Marty Nothstein commented.

“We’re making sure county services are being taken care of and making sure our employees are being compensated, and we also are not increasing taxes,” Nothsteins said. “When you can cover those three issues you know you have a strong budget. It’s going to be supported by [Lehigh] County residents countywide.

“I am very supportive of this budget.”