Township Will Join Lawsuit Against Arena Zone

Following a late evening executive session Wednesday, Lower Saucon Township Council unanimously approved a motion that will have the township join Hanover Township, Northampton County, and other local municipalities that plan to challenge in court the legality of .

As of now, some funding for the project would come from Earned Income taxes (EIT) paid by employees who work within the NIZ, including any Lower Saucon residents who work there.

Without the NIZ in place and authorized by law to receive that money, the tax would be returned to the home municipalities of the employees.

Exactly how many township residents work within the 85-acre, center city NIZ is not clear--a fact that was alluded to by council solicitor B. Lincoln "Linc" Treadwell in remarks made before council voted on joining the legal fight.

“Lower Saucon Township has asked the city (of Allentown) and the tax collectors to provide the township with the financial impact, and they have been unable to do so at this point,” he said.

The loss of funds for the township would be greater than it will be for other municipalities, because township voters .

That the will of township voters would be abrogated by the creation of the NIZ does not sit well with him, council president Glenn Kern said.

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"I think the whole concept is illegal," he said, referring to the NIZ.

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