Salisbury Township commissioners are expected to approve the hiring of two equipment operators in the public works department, in addition to already announced plans to hire one new public works employee and two new officers in the police department.

To fund the expanded hiring, a 22.6 percent annual township tax increase is being proposed.

Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to advertise the proposed 2016 budget at the Nov. 24 township meeting. Commissioner Joanne Ackerman made the motion. Commissioner James Seagreaves seconded it.

The 2016 budget is expected to be available for public inspection at the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave. and on the township website, salisburytownshippa.org.

Salisbury Commissioners meet 7 p.m. Dec. 3 and 17, rather than the usual second and fourth Thursdays because Dec. 24 is Christmas Eve.

Commissioners plan to approve the 2016 budget on or before the Dec. 17 meeting. If not, an additional December commissioners’ meeting would be held.

The consensus for the new hires and tax increase was reached during a one and one-half hour 2016 township budget discussion at a township workshop following the Nov. 24 board of commissioners’ meeting. The meeting was held two days prior to the regular Nov. 26 commissioners’ meeting because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Based on Salisbury’s average assessed property value of $207,817 and the annual millage of 1.61103, township taxes for 2015 would have been $334.80.

The proposed millage increase of 0.36412 mills brings the total millage to 1.97515 for 2016.

Based on the same assessed value of $207,817, it would increase those taxes to $410.47 in 2016.

That is a $75.67, or 22.6 percent annual increase which works out to about $6.31 per month.

The proposed tax increase would support the proposed 2016 township general fund budget of $8,187,600, up from the 2015 township general fund budget of $7,582,820.

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

The proposed tax hike is in addition to proposed increases in township water rates of $5.80 per 1,000 gallons and sewer rates of $63 per quarter, which is an 18 percent increase in water rates and a 35 percent increase in sewer rates.

At the Nov. 24 workshop, Commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton recommended the hiring of the two public works employees. Improvements at Lindberg Park, part of a master plan to upgrade the western Salisbury Township facility, including the perimeter walking trail completed this year, will require more maintenance. Improvements to Laubach Park, Franko Farm Park and Dodson Park in eastern Salisbury are in the offing as part of a master plan underway for those parks.

“Do we need more personnel at the parks to maintain them?” Brinton asked.

Salisbury Township Director of Public Works John Andreas said the public works department has six fewer employees than in 2008 because of retirees who weren’t replaced.

“I appreciate that you see that need,” Andreas said to Brinton.

The township public works department has 20 employees, including 14 in the highway department, five in the utility department and one mechanic.

Citing mowing, removal of garbage and cleaning restrooms at parks, Andreas added, “We would like to drag the [athletic] fields every week.”

Brinton said with improvements to the parks, “to keep it at that level, you need more personnel.”

Of Lindberg Park’s new perimeter trail, Salisbury Township Director of Finance and Acting Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said, “It needs to be maintained.”

Andreas said owing to the surface material of the perimeter trail, “It might require additional equipment.”

Commissioner Robert Martucci Jr. said, “Even if we don’t improve the parks, they need to be maintained.”

Commissioner President James A. Brown concluded, “If we’re going to beautify our parks, we need to maintain them.”

Noting the impact of the new hires will require a tax hike, Brinton said, “I don’t want our taxes to go up. My husband and I are on a fixed income.”

Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr. asked Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles if the two new police officers and the promotion of four officers to corporals is needed.

“The idea is to make sure there’s enough supervision on the street,” Stiles answered.

“I need to have enough supervision. If something bad happens, I have to answer for it, you have to answer for it, the citizens of Salisbury have to answer for it, if we get sued.

“To make sure we don’t have any liability issues and make sure an officer doesn’t get shot or shoots someone ... That’s the last thing we want,” Stiles said.

The township police department, which has 17 officers including Stiles, must respond not only to maintaining traffic safety in the “Casino Corridor” in eastern Salisbury, but to emergency calls at Lehigh Valley Health Network - Cedar Crest.

“If somebody gets shot in Allentown, he’s brought to LVH - Cedar Crest,” Stiles said.

The police department auxiliary building to be built at Eastern Salisbury Fire Company, East Emmaus Avenue and Honeysuckle Road, is estimated to cost $280,000. The project is included in a township borrowing plan to be amortized over 20 years.

The building is needed for storage of police records and other department uses.

The township would borrow $6.4 million, which includes refinancing $4.35 million of existing township debt. The township refinancing plan would provide funds for, in addition to, the police auxiliary building, improvements to the township storm sewer and water and sanitary sewer systems.

Martucci asked if a Lehigh County casino funding grant applicaton had been approved for the auxiliary building.

“As of tonight, it’s gone,” Stiles said, who attended the Nov. 24 Lehigh County Commissioners’ meeting. Lehigh County approved $29,562 in casino grant funds for Salisbury, earmarked in part for east side traffic enforcement along East Emmaus Avenue, East Susquehanna Street, Seidersville Road and Broadway.

“We’re seeing more DUI arrests of people coming from the [Sands] casino,” Stiles said during his Nov. 24 report to commissoners.

“A woman coming from the casino drove off the road and totaled our police car. She was under the influence,” Stiles said.

“Our enforcement is needed in that area,” Stiles said, noting traffic in eastern Salisbury is also generated to and from Lehigh University, Moravian College in Bethlehem and PPL Center in center city Allentown. “That traffic goes right through Salisbury Township,” Stiles said.

Stiles said there is some question as to whether or not Salisbury will be included in Lehigh County casino grant funding.

“The county may change funding and may not include Salisbury. In the future, we don’t know if that [casino grants] will continue.”

The proposed 22.6 percent tax hike is an increase from a 17 percent tax hike discussed during budget deliberations at the Nov. 12 workshop. That hike was to pay for the hiring of one new public works employee and two new police officers, plus other township services. Then, the proposed millage increase of 0.2775 mills would have brought the total millage to 1.88853, based on the assessed value of $207,817. Taxes would have increased to $392.47, for a $57.67, or 17 percent, annual increase, which would have been about $4.81 per month.

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.

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.