Salisbury Township's proposed 2015 municipal budget, which holds the line on taxes and funds numerous township capital improvements, is now available for public inspection.

By a unanimous 5-0 vote, the township board of commissioners voted Nov. 13 to advertise the budget. Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr., made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Joanne Ackerman, to bring the budget advertising to a vote.

Pennsylvania's First Class Township Code requires a proposed annual budget must be published and made available for public inspection at least 20 days prior to the date set for adoption of the budget.

A copy of the budget is available for inspection at the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave. Township office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Salisbury commissioners plan to vote on the 2015 budget at the 7 p.m. Dec. 18 meeting.

Commissioners will also meet 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in the township municipal building,

The 7 p.m. Nov. 20 commissioners' meeting, at which the budget was to be discussed, has been canceled, it was decided at the Nov. 13 meeting. Commissioners said they had no further questions about the budget.

Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano's proposed $12,773,070 budget for 2015 keeps taxes at 1.611 mills overall.

The general fund millage for funding the $7,142,720 general operating budget is to stay at 1.34 mills.

The contribution to the fire fund, based on .208 of a mill, is to be $37.40.

The contribution to the library fund, which supports the Allentown Public Library, at .060 of a mill, is to be $10.80.

If commissioners approve the 2015 budget and millage rate, the owner of a home assessed at $180,000 will continue to pay $241.56.

Soriano put the township surplus at $764,997.

The surplus resulted because, in part, of the $23.4-million sale in June of the South Mall by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust to Nicholas Park Mall LCC, which generated $202,000, of a $290,000 total, in real estate transfer taxes.

Soriano also attributed the surplus to $297,000 more in earned income taxes; $22,000 in transfers from other funds that were not needed; $100,000 in general government savings, including $49,000 in engineering line items; $31,000 in not filling the custodian position; $24,000 in administration personnel savings because retirement incentives were not used, and $191,000 in general fund budget unspent funds.

The police department budget went over budget by $105,000, including $46,000 in overtime and $26,000 in police vehicles.

The proposed 2015 spending plan funds technology upgrades for township departments, replacement of heavy equipment, and improvements to township infrastructure.

The capital improvement budget of $913,000 ($231,500 for debt service) includes $50,000 for upgrading the security and fire alarm system in the municipal building; $14,500, to replace bulletproof vests for police officers; $20,000, for billboard emergency alert messaging, $169,000, public works department, new dump truck and backhoe and $470,800, completion of Lindberg Park Master Site Phase 1 perimeter trail (offset by $248,900 in Lehigh County and state grants).

Soriano unveiled the 2015 budget during the Oct. 23 township workshop.

The budget was discussed at a special Sept. 6 meeting.