The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners appears ready to approve the 2017 general fund budget when it is expected to be presented for an up or down agenda vote at the next township meeting, 7 p.m. Dec. 22 in the township municipal building, 2900 South Pike Ave.

In brief remarks during a five-minute discussion of the budget during the workshop after the Dec. 8 meeting, Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano asked if there were any questions from commissioners about the 2017 budget, which must be approved by year’s end.

“I’m satisfied with the budget as it’s been proposed and revisited,” Township Commissioner Vice President Robert Martucci Jr. said.

“I’ve nothing to discuss and add,” Commissioner James Seagreaves said.

Commissioner Joanne Ackerman asked about the proposed water and sewer rates hike.

Salisbury Township residents can expect a 2.5 percent water rate increase and a 4.7 percent sewer rate increase in 2017.

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.

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.

Robert Agonis, a member of the Salisbury Township Environmental Advisory Council Task Force, asked if the township is setting aside funds, which the Borough of Emmaus is doing, to defray costs of planned LCA wastewater treatment plant improvements.

“We know that was going to happen,” Commissioners President James A. Brown said, adding, “Eventually, we’re going to have to put it into a rainy day fund.”

Brown added, “I’m good with the budget. I think we came up with a fair budget. All the department heads worked well together. I’m ready to pass the budget at the next meeting.”

Commissioner Debra Brinton was absent Dec. 8.

Commissioners voted 5-0 at a special Nov. 22 meeting to approve advertising the proposed 2017 township general fund budget.

“This budget does not increase taxes,” Soriano said at the Nov. 22 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 township tax increase in 2016.

The 2017 budget proposed by Soriano 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 township is expected to offset the deficit by withdrawing money from its fund balance.

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

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