Slatington will soon decide whether it plans to support or defund the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority.

Borough council will meet at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Slatington Vigilant Fire Company to vote on the proposal.

On Wednesday, borough manager Dan Stevens confirmed the matter is listed on the agenda for a vote.

Stevens said the matter was previously listed on the agenda at council’s committee meeting held Sept. 21.

At that time, Stevens said the committee recommended the matter be listed on the Oct. 12 council meeting for budget reasons.

Stevens said the contribution up through 2019 was $3 per capita for Slatington, Washington Township and Walnutport, and that Slatington’s contribution was $12,696.

He said that this year, the contribution went up to $7.50 per capita, which increased Slatington’s budgetary amount to $31,740.

Stevens said that according to the schedule presented by the recreation authority, the borough’s contribution would be the same in 2021.

He said that in 2022, the per capita is supposed to go up to $10, meaning the borough’s contribution would be $42,320.

Stevens said that in 2023, the per capita is supposed to go up to $12.50 per capita, bringing the borough’s contribution to $52,900.

The Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority has posted a message on its Facebook page asking the public to show their support to save the recreation authority.

“The main reason is budgetary due to COVID, but there is a councilman who simply does not believe that the borough should be supporting the agency, and he has gained support from others on council,” the post states. “We cannot let this happen.”

The recreation authority noted that it’s brought Summer Recreation, the Candy Cane Hunt, Trunk-or-Treat, Food Truck Fest, the highly popular senior exercise classes, along with many other outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, canoeing, hikes and the newest Wednesday Unwind with live music at the Trailhead to the area.

“We want to keep this going for our residents. Please come to the meeting and let it be known the residents want recreation. Don’t let them defund these programs for our kids and community.”