County employee wages, benefits, and pensions
The proposed 2027 budget includes large increases for employee healthcare (~$19 million) and retiree pensions/OPEB (~$14–15.5 million, underfunded for over 18 months), plus raising the county worker minimum wage to $18/hour phased to $22 by 2029. These costs are major drivers of the tax hike debate amid recruitment and retention challenges.
How should Northampton County handle rising employee compensation, benefits, and pension costs?
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Sources
County Executive Tara Zrinski — https://www.mcall.com/2026/10/02/proposed-northampton-county-budget-includes-43-tax-hike-we-need-to-get-ahead-executive-says/
Large increases for employee healthcare/benefits (~$19 million) and retiree pensions/OPEB (~$14–15.5 million, underfunded for 18+ months). Raising county worker minimum wage to $18/hour (phased to $22 by 2029).
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Fully fund raises, benefits, and pensions while expanding worker protections and union power
- Approve the proposed wage floor and catch-up funding for healthcare and underfunded pensions
- Support competitive pay with reforms to control long-term benefit and pension cost growth
- Limit raises and require employees to share more benefit costs before any tax-funded increases
- Freeze or cut compensation growth and restructure pensions to prioritize taxpayers over workforce expansion