Salisbury Township residents have had their first look at the proposed 2016 township budget. And, about two weeks after the proposed budget was approved for advertising, based on public meetings and phone calls, few township residents appear to object to a proposed 22.6 percent tax hike for 2016.

According to commissioners who were contacted by constituents by phone, the residents were mollified when the need for the tax hike was explained.

While no residents showed up at the Dec. 3 township commissioners’ meeting and workshop, one resident did show up at the Nov. 24 commissioners’ meeting to complain about tax hikes in general.

Commissioners are expected to approve the 2016 budget at the 7 p.m. Dec. 17 meeting. If not, an additional December commissioners’ meeting could be held.

As of Nov. 30, the 2016 budget has been available for public inspection at the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., and on the township website, salisburytownshippa.org.

Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to advertise the proposed 2016 budget at the Nov. 24 township meeting.

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

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

The township police department has 17 officers, including Police Chief Allen W. Stiles.

To fund the increased budget, a 22.6 percent annual township tax increase is being proposed.

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.

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 on average for each property owner.

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.

Also, the township plans to borrow $6,410,000, which includes refinancing $2,045,000 of existing township debt. The township refinancing plan would provide funds for, in addition to a police auxiliary building at Eastern Salisbury Fire Company, improvements to the township storm sewer and water and sanitary sewer systems.

The proposed 2016 total township budget is $14,076,790, which is composed of the following fund categories, based on a 32-page printout of the budget from the township web site:

General Fund: $8,187,600

Fire Fund: $390,180

Library Fund: $81,750

Water Fund: $1,629,700

Sewer Fund: $1,781,600

Refuse and Recycling: $1,403,660

Debt Fund: $177,400

Highway Fund: $424,900

At the Dec. 3 meeting, township commissioners gave an overview of citizens’ comments about the budget.

Commissioner Robert Martucci, Jr., said he received one phone call from a resident who complained about the township tax hike. “After I spoke with him, he said he was more comfortable,” Martucci said.

Commissioner Vice President Debra Brinton said, “I got one phone call, but it was from his wife,” referring to the person who phoned Martucci.

At the Nov. 24 meeting and workshop, Matthias Staack, of Salisbury Township, said he was “incredulous” over not only the proposed township hikes in taxes and water and sewer rates, but an increase in other taxes, as well.

“We’re very happy with this budget,” Brinton said during the budget discussion at the Dec. 3 workshop.

Commissioner James Seagreaves said, “A lot of this stuff was a long time coming. We should have started it years ago.”

Commissioner President James A. Brown said the board of commissioners was satisfied with the proposed budget.

Salisbury Township Director of Finance and Acting Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said she would prepare the ordinance to set the 2016 tax rate. The ordinance is expected to be on the agenda of the Dec. 17 township meeting.

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.