The holiday season spirit of giving continues into the new year for Salisbury Township officials.

Township residents will see their municipal taxes remain the same for 2015 and may see the township trash pickup rate reduced.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners approved the budget and set the same tax rate at a meeting Dec. 30, 2014.

Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to approve a motion to accept the 2015 budget. Commissioner Robert Martucci Jr., made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton.

Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the 2015 budget tax rate ordinance. Commissioner James Seagreaves made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Joanne Ackerman.

The tax rate will stay at 1.611 mills, which includes 1.34 mills for the general fund, 0.208 mill for fire protection fund (township volunteer fire departments) and 0.060 for library services fund (Allentown Public Library).

At the 1.611 mills rate, the owner of a home assessed at $180,000 will continue to pay $241.56. Of this, the contribution to the fire fund is $37.40 and the contribution to the library fund is $10.80.

"We have not changed the mills," Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano said at the Dec. 30 meeting.

The special meeting was held because, following approval of the lowest bid by Republic Services, the refuse and recycling fund is less: about $1.2 million for 2015, down from $1.6 million for 2014. This changed some of the budget figures.

"No doubt that savings will be passed on after the first quarter," Soriano said, indicating a savings per township household of about $60, or $20 per quarter, effective after March 1, or the end of the first quarter when the new trash hauler contract goes into effect.

The annual trash pickup rate is now $340. The rate could be reduced to $280.

Ackerman asked about the transition from Waste Management, Inc., to Republic.

"The good thing is we were able to save money without changing services," Soriano answered.

Trash pickup continues twice weekly and recycling continues once weekly.

"We thank Waste Management for their service. But money talks. And we hope Republic will do the same work. After three years of service, we can renew the contract or not," Soriano said.

Following is a breakdown of the 2015 adopted township budget.

General Fund Expenditures: $7,142,720

This includes:

General Government: $969,050

Police: $1,870,450

Fire: $213,000

Protective Inspections: $212,900

Planning and Zoning: $155,950

Highway and Public Works: $1,259,300

Recreation: $204,500

Lease Payments: $12,100

Insurance and Benefits: $1,847,100

Contributions and Miscellaneous: $59,370

Transfer to Capital Reserves: $338,700

Also, Non-Operating Expenditures: $778,800, which includes:

Debt Service: $166,100

Capital: $612,700

Fire Protection Fund: $348,200, plus Non-Operating Expenditures: $53,600

Library Fund: $81,750.

Water Fund: $1,529,300, plus Non-Operating Expenditures: $69,800.

Sewer Fund: $1,643,000, plus Non-Operating Expenditures: $193,000

Refuse and Recycling Fund: $1,225,400

Highway Aid Fund: $331,150, plus Non-Operating Expenditures: $50,000

The total township operating budget is $12,467,620. The township had a 2014 surplus of $764,997.

The surplus was in part because 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 $290,000 in real estate transfer taxes.

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

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

The capital improvement budget of $913,700 ($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 for a new dump truck and backhoe for the Public Works Department and $470,800 for completion of the Lindberg Park Master Site Phase 1 Perimeter Trail (offset by $248,900 in Lehigh County and state grants).

Commissioners began discussing the budget late last summer.

By a unanimous 5-0 vote, commissioners voted Nov. 13, 2014, to advertise the proposed budget.

The budget was discussed during a budget workshop at a special Nov. 6, 2014, township meeting.

Soriano unveiled the 2015 budget during a Oct. 23, 2014, township workshop.

The budget was discussed at a special Sept. 6, 2014, commissioners' meeting.

The township board of commissioners next meets 7 p.m. Jan. 8 at the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.