At its Dec. 1 meeting, Northampton County Council approved the amended 2023 budget, totaling $544.8 million.

Northampton County once again will not raise taxes, for the fourth time in county Executive Lamont McClure’s administration. The real estate millage will remain at 10.8 mills.

The millage rate is “the rate at which tax revenue is generated from assessments, expressed in terms of 1/1000th of assessed value.”

Council also approved the county’s capital improvements plan, totaling an additional $3,518,000.

In other business, council considered various positions in the county. One motion created a full-time program coordinator position for the conservation district and a full-time veterans services officer, all effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Council also approved a motion eliminating 35 part-time and eight per diem certified nurse aides; four full-time, four part-time and 10 per diem licensed practical nurses; and one full-time, one part-time and 24 per diem registered nurse positions, among others, in the Department of Human Services (Gracedale).

Gracedale Administrator Jennifer Stewart-King said there are still many part-time and per diem positions available at Gracedale, and those positions are “enough to do 688 beds.”

She also told council that Gracedale recently hired 14 new employees, who are going through the required training.

Additionally, council members voted to hold the reorganization meeting 3:30 p.m. Jan. 3, 2023.

Council’s regularly scheduled meetings for 2023 remain 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of each month. One exception is noted - the Dec. 21, 2023, meeting, which will be held 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 2023, instead.

County council next meets 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8 in the county building, 669 Washington St., Easton.