LCA Finances

2026 Budget

The Board of Directors adopted the LCA 2026 budget on October 27, 2025.

2026 Budget

LCA’s budget is divided into three basic funds: Allentown (City) Division, Suburban Water, and Suburban Wastewater. Within each budget, costs are further divided into operating units, internal service (overhead) categories, laboratory/support services, and capital expenses.

The Allentown (City) Division budget includes both water and sewer system expenses, both operating and capital expenses, associated with LCA’s operating lease of the City’s systems. These expenses are funded through water and sewer rates, dictated by the 50-year lease agreement and charges to municipalities in accordance with inter-municipal agreements. Capital expenses are paid through a combination of operating revenues, borrowing, tapping fees, and contributions from the City for specific City-funded work.

The Suburban Water budget covers operating and capital budgets for all LCA-owned water systems and is funded through LCA’s water rates as well as through any additional borrowing that may be necessary to fund capital expenses.

The Suburban Wastewater budget covers operating and capital budgets for all LCA-owned sewer systems, including collector systems, interceptors, and wastewater treatment plants. This budget is funded through LCA’s sewer rates to direct customers and municipalities, as well as through any additional borrowing that may be necessary to fund capital expenses.

Capital Plans 2026 – 2030

Our Board of Directors adopted LCA’s 2026-2030 Capital Plans for all service areas in October 2025. The $355 million plan includes both water and wastewater projects that will benefit more than 270,000 residents in 20 municipalities across Lehigh and Northampton Counties, including the City of Allentown.

In the Allentown Division, capital funding comes in several forms, including some projects that will be paid for directly by the City of Allentown, or through borrowing that LCA will manage, and costs recovered through rate increases as projects are completed.

LCA’s capital plan is focused on projects that will allow us to continue providing high-quality, safe, and reliable water and wastewater services to existing and future customers. Project highlights in the plan include technology upgrades, small system upgrades, system planning and studies, water metering upgrades, major water facility upgrades, major wastewater facility upgrades, water main replacements, annual maintenance and rehabilitation projects, sewer wet-weather projects, regulatory-driven projects, such as lead service line replacement and PFAS-related projects.

Future Board authorization will be sought to approve funding during the annual budget process and future project-specific and bond financing approvals.

Want to know more? Download a full copy of LCA’s Capital Plans:

• 2026-2030 Capital Plan – Suburban Division
• 2026-2030 Capital Plan – Allentown Division
• 2026-2030 Capital Plan – Administration