Salisbury Township residents may have to shell out more for township services in 2016.

The township board of commissioners is mulling a 0.2275 mills hike, which would increase township mills from 1.61103 mills to 1.88853 mills.

Based on the 2015 average township house property assessment of $207,817, the increase per property owner would amount to $57.66 per year, or $4.80 per month.

The average township property tax for 2015 is $334.80. The proposed millage hike would increase the average township property tax for 2016 to $392.47, which represents an increase of 17 percent.

The proposed tax hike comes on the heels of a proposed increase in township water rates of $5.80 per 1,000 gallons and sewer rates of $63 per quarter, which represents an 18 percent increase in water rates and a 35 percent increase in sewer rates.

If the increases are approved as proposed, it could amount to an approximate $201.66 annual increase for the typical township property owner who uses water and sewer services.

The millage increase was discussed at a workshop following the Nov. 12 township meeting when commissioners were given a first look at the 2016 township budget by Salisbury Township Director of Finance and Acting Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich.

Commissioners are expected to discuss the 2016 township budget at the next meeting, 7 p.m. Nov. 24. The meeting is being held two days early because Nov. 26, when commissioners would hold their second monthly meeting, is the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

It is expected the public will be able to get a first look at the 2016 township budget Nov. 25, following a first reading and possibly preliminary approval by township commissioners. A copy of the budget will be available as of Nov. 25 at the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

The budget is also expected to be discussed at the Dec. 3 and Dec. 17 township meetings. Commissioners meet 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, but not in December because Dec. 24 is the night before the Christmas Day holiday.

Commissioners hope to approve the budget on or before the Dec. 17 meeting. If not, an additional December commissioners’ meeting may be held.

“This is our preliminary talking,” Commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton emphasized concerning the budget at the Nov. 12 workshop.

The proposed tax increase would support the proposed 2016 township general fund budget of $8,080,900, up from the 2015 township general fund budget of $7,582,820.

If approved, the higher 2016 budget would pay for three new personnel hires (two new police officers and one new public works employee), township parks projects, two new police vehicles, and a new public works dump truck and mower.

The township plans to borrow money in a refinancing plan to provide funds for capital improvements, including a new auxiliary police building at Eastern Salisbury Fire Company, East Emmaus Avenue and Honeysuckle Road, and improvements to the township storm sewer and water and sanitary sewer systems.

The auxiliary police building, for which a grant has been applied, would cost an estimated $280,000. The grant is not guaranteed. That is why the cost of the building is included in the 2016 budget. The building is needed for storage of police records and other department uses.

“All of these capital projects, we will be borrowing money for. We will be re-capitalizing our debt,” Bonaskiewich said.

Borrowed would be $6.4 million, which would include refinancing $4.35 million of existing township debt.

“Raising rates and stretching our debt will help you balance the funds,” Bonaskiewich said.

Bonaskiewich told commissioners borrowing money is to prevent the township from dipping into its reserve funds to finance improvements, which it has done in recent years.

Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press after the Nov. 12 meeting that the last time the township borrowed money was in 2010.

Township officials are considering a proposed increase in township water rates of $5.80 per 1,000 gallons and sewer rates of $63 per quarter. The hikes represent an estimated 18 percent increase in water rates and an estimated 35 percent increase in sewer rates.

“Is this going to start getting us into the black again?” Commissioner Joanne Ackerman asked of the water and sewer funds.

“This is intending us to break even,” Bonaskiewich replied.

Water rates could rise from $4.82 per 1,000 gallons per quarter to $5.80 per 1,000 gallons per quarter.

Sewer fees could rise from $47.82 per unit per quarter to $63 per unit per quarter.

The impact on the average township water and sewer user could be about $144 annually or $12 per month.

There are 3,191 township customers of Lehigh County Authority, which purchased the Allentown Water Authority. The average township water user pays $410 annually.

There are 4,372 township sewer service customers. The average township sewer service user pays $341 annually.

New water and sewer rates could go into effect Jan. 1, 2016.

The proposed water and sewer rate increases could be voted upon in December as part of 2016 township budget approval.

Township water and sewer rates haven’t been raised for 16 years. The last township water and sewer rate increases were in 1999.

At the Sept. 10 township meeting, Todd J. Bushta, Certified Public Accountant, of Bushta & Company, LLC, Bethlehem, township financial auditor and consultant, proposed the water and sewer rate hikes, as well as a $2,835,000 bond for township water system improvements. The township’s annual debt service for the bond would be $150,000.

Replacing home water meters would cost an estimated $1 million, according to Bonaskiewich.

Bushta had also proposed borrowing $1 million for township sewer system improvements. The township’s annual dept service would be $50,000.

During the approximate one-hour budget discussion during the Nov. 12 workshop, Commissioner President James A. Brown asked whether the hiring of two more police officers would cut down on police department overtime. “You anticipate that number dropping?” Brown asked concerning police overtime.

Salisbury Township Police Sergeant Donald Sabo, Jr., filling in for Salisbury Township Police Allen W. Stiles, who was absent, answered, “Yes,” adding, “It would put us back to where we budget,” Sabo said.

“We provide a lot in this township,” Brinton said. “We’re a customer-service township.”

Noting improvements underway in the township’s Lindberg Park and planned improvements to Laubach Park, Ackerman said, “When you have beautiful parks, that adds to the value of your home.”