The tax rate will remain the same as last year’s millage rate at 3.78 percent, according to Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong. He made the announcement in an in-person meeting at the County Administration building near Seventh Street and Hamilton Boulevard Aug. 27.

“We have been working with the board of commissioners,” said Armstrong in a bid to gain bi-partisan support for his proposed 2021 Lehigh County budget. “Our goal is to do what is right, politically.”

Last year’s vote on the budget was 7-2, meaning that one Republican voted with the Democratic majority to pass the budget.

Remarking on the savings in printing costs by putting the proposed budget on-line via Lehigh County’s website, Armstrong ceremoniously handed over a two-volume printed budget to the two county commissioners who attended, Republican Marc Grammes and Democrat David Harrington.

Armstrong said his proposed budget continues a $25 million stabilization fund, the use of which has so far enabled “us to make it through” the coronavirus pandemic.

“Hats off to the Lehigh County workers who have keep the county going 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Armstrong. “We never shut down the county.”

Armstrong said that only $114 million of the $457 million budget comes from Lehigh County property taxes, with the balance being provided by state and federal pass-through funds.

He said labor, medical expenses and pension contributions account for most of the county’s expenses.

Over $33.3 million in federal CARES Act funding and $5 million in federal stimulus to Cedarbrook are included in the budget as revenues.

No cuts in the sheriff’s department budget are reflected in the budget.

Armstrong said a “non-essential hiring freeze” implemented earlier in response to the pandemic will continue in effect.

Farmland preservation will continue as a spending priority, with $1 million earmarked for the program.