While Salisbury Township residents won’t face a township tax hike directly as a result of the proposed 2017 general fund budget, they can expect a 2.5 percent water rate increase and a 4.7 percent sewer rate increase next year.

The water and sewer fee hikes are pass-along increases, resulting from increases in fees charged by the Lehigh County Authority, from which township residents get the majority of their water and which processes the majority of the township sanitary sewage, according to Salisbury Township Assistant Manager-Director of Finance Cathy Bonaskiewich.

The tentative increase in the water rate is $0.15 per thousand gallons of water, from $5.90 per million gallons to $6.05 per million gallons.

The tentative increase in the sewer rate is $3 per unit per quarter for residential sewer service, from $63 per unit per quarter to $66 per unit quarter. The commercial sewer rate will also be adjusted accordingly.

“Both are solely to keep up with increased rates imposed upon the township by our suppliers, nothing more,” Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press in an interview concerning the 2017 township general fund budget.

“It’s a whole bunch of factors that go into our water and sewer rates,” Bonaskiewich explained. The LCA has a tiered billing system for water use, whereby the more water used, the lower the rate.

A portion of township residents on the township’s east side are provided water and sewer services by the City of Bethlehem.

A few township residents on the township’s west side are provided with sewer service by the Borough of Emmaus.

The 2017 township general fund budget is expected to be discussed at the 7 p.m. Dec. 8 commissioners’ meeting and workshop in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

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

“This budget does not increase taxes,” Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano said at the meeting.

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 and on the township website, salisburytownshippa.org.

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.

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.

However, commissioners are expected to approve the 2017 budget proposed by the township manager. If so, the bottom line for the 2017 budget is that the township is expected to run a deficit of $823,855.

The township will offset the deficit by withdrawing money from its fund balance.

The fund balance at the end of 2017 is projected to be $2,660,150, down from $3,484,005 at the start of 2017.

Bonaskiewich detailed aspects of the township budget expected to improve government services, township equipment and amenities.

Under capital construction facilities, $30,000 is earmarked to upgrade the alarm and security system in the municipal building.

For the Lindberg Park Master Site Plan, $40,000 is to be paid as the remaining retainer fee for work in phase two for interior pathways and ground cover restoration. Also, at Lindberg, for phase three, there is $472,400 listed for a new pavilion, restrooms and a storage room, expected to be completed in 2017.

Under capital equipment, there is $52,500 listed for the township police department. A new incident command unit, which is an equipment-outfitted step-van truck, requested by Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles, at a cost of $200,000, was rejected by Soriano.

In capital equipment, there are plans to share costs under the police department and emergency management services budget line items to purchase a drone at the cost of $15,500.

When asked what the drone would be used for, Bonaskiewich said, “That information was not disclosed other than they [police and EMS] think it would be a very good tool for them to use.” Possible uses include searching for lost persons, rescue operations and crime scene investigations.

Also, under capital equipment, there is $50,000 set aside under the category of storm sewer for a pickup truck for MS4 duties. “It will be equipped with a crane to more easily pull off inlet covers,” Bonaskiewich said.

Capital equipment also includes in the highway category, $70,000 for a new dump truck with plow and $10,000 to retrofit a dump truck with a self-contained leaf unit.

Also, under the fire fund, there’s $664,320 listed for a new pumper truck, which is now being built with a summer-fall delivery expected for Western Salisbury Fire Company.

The township debt service is $184,400. That is the amount on principal and interest the township repays to the general fund.

The general fund budget for 2017 has projected surpluses, including: water fund, $141,300; sewer fund, $74,800, refuse and recycling, $42,600.

“If those figures come to fruition, then we will see a surplus from operations. And then that money can be used for capital expenditures,” Bonaskiewich said.

The highway aid surplus is projected at $141,600. This can only be used for specific purposes including road salt, maintenance and electric power for traffic signals and electric power for street lights.

Township personnel salaries total about $4 million for 56 employees.