Advertising of the proposed 2017 Salisbury Township General Fund Budget has been approved.

“This budget does not increase taxes,” Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano promised.

Township millage is 1.97515. Based on an assessed value of $207,817, taxes were $410.47 in 2016. Commissioners approved a 22.6 percent annual increase in 2016.

The public may examine a copy of the proposed 2017 budget at the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave. and on the township website, salisburytownshippa.org.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 at a special Nov. 22 meeting to approve advertising the proposed 2017 township budget in order to meet the Pennsylvania-mandated 20-day inspection period.

“That doesn’t mean that the review process stops,” Soriano said. “The board can further change the budget.”

Added Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners President James A. Brown, “We’re not accepting it.”

Commissioner Debra Brinton asked for clarification.

“You may amend the budget between now and Dec. 31,” Soriano responded.

No changes were made to the preliminary budget during the 40-minute discussion.

Commissioners next meet 7 p.m. Dec. 8 in the municipal building meeting room. The board meeting was held Nov. 22 because the Thanksgiving Day holiday was Nov. 24, when the second Thursday monthly meeting would have been held.

The 2017 budget proposed by the manager has total operating expenditures of $7,481,815 and revenues of $7,581,700. Added to that is debt service of $184,400 and capital expenditures of $739,340 for total expenditures of $8,405,555, which results in a deficit of $823,855. To balance the budget, funds would be taken from the operating reserve, reducing the fund to $2,740,989 at the end of 2017.

The 2017 budget proposed by the department heads has total operating expenditures of $7,622,615 and revenues of $7,444,600. Added to that is debt service of $184,400 and capital expenditures of $939,340 for total expenditures of $8,746,355, which results in a deficit of $1,301,755. To balance the budget, funds would be taken from the operating reserve, reducing the fund to $2,463,089 at the end of 2017.

The differences between the manager’s and department heads’ proposed budgets will need to be reconciled by commissioners, who are expected to continue budget deliberations at Dec. 8 and 22 township meetings. As of deadline, it was not known if additional budget meetings would need to be held by commissioners.

Discussion by commissioners Nov. 22 centered on Soriano’s proposal to hire a human resources director and or a finance director, a move that some commissioners have voiced opposition to, including Brinton at Nov. 10, Oct. 27 and Oct. 13 township workshops.

“We are not requesting a human resources director,” Soriano said at the Nov. 22 meeting. “I’m requesting a stand-alone assistant manager as it was envisioned in the original township structure.”

Of the proposed 2017 budget, Commissioner Vice President Robert Martucci Jr., said, “I’m looking at this and it’s fine. I do not want any tax increases. However, we are going to have to look at future years.”

“We’re still taking from a fund balance that I don’t see us putting more money into,” Brinton said.

Brinton expressed concern about a $75,000 starting salary for a finance director, saying, “I think this year we should not do it. With benefits, it’s going to cost $100,00-plus.”

Commissioner Joanne Ackerman also voiced concern about hiring a finance director and dipping into the fund balance, saying, “We are financially-locked with no room to grow. We may have to raise taxes.”

Said Commissioner James Seagreaves of the fund balance, which has dwindled from approximately $7 million about seven years ago to a projected 2016 year-end balance of approximately $3.4 million, “The end of that is coming near in the next year or two. We have no choice. I’m not saying how much, but we’re going to have to raise taxes.”

“I’m not in favor of using the fund. I don’t think we should. We have to work within our means,” Ackerman said.

Brinton, turning to Brown, asked, “Are you in favor of having a finance director?”

“Oh, yes, I am,” Brown replied.

Noted Salisbury Township Assistant Manager-Director of Finance Cathy Bonaskiewich, “I put in the original draft, slash assistant manager, human resources director. As assistant manager, I would take that on [human resources],” adding, “Do I need another person? Yes.”

Observed Ackerman, ”There’s 5,000 households and we have 11 people working in the office. When we add the salaries, it’s over $4 million.”