Salisbury Township has held the line on taxes for 2019.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted 5-0 on no tax increase.

“There is no tax increase. It will remain at 2.2 mills,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said at the Dec. 13 meeting when commissioners unanimously approved the 2019 budget.

The township tax rate is to remain at 2.2 mills for 2019.

Based on the average township residential assessment of $200,000, the tax bill is $440.

The tax rate for general township purposes is 1.93000 mills, for fire protection, 0.20900 mills, and for library services, 0.06100 mills, for the total of 2.20000 mills.

Commissioners voted 5-0 in separate votes to approve water and sewer rates, refuse and recycling rates and the police pension contribution.

Water and sewer and refuse and recycling costs will increase. These are described by township officials as pass-along costs from the Lehigh County Authority and Republic Services, respectively.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the water rate is $6.60 per 1,000 gallons, an increase of 30 cents, from $6.30 per 1,000 gallons.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the sewer rate for each private dwelling unit is $288 annually, or $72 per quarterly billing period, an increase of $6 per quarter from $66 per quarter.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the sewer rate for owners of nonresidential improved properties connected is $316.80 annually, or $79.20 per quarterly billing period per unit.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the billing rate for refuse and recycling collection services is $272 annually, or $68 per quarter, an increase of $1 per quarter from the previous $67 per quarter.

The Minimum Municipal Obligation for 2019 to the Police Pension Plan is $435,442, with police officers to contribute to the plan in the amount equal to 3.04 percent of annual compensation during 2019.

2019 adopted budgets

General Fund

Revenue: $8,924,070

Current Year: $8,447,141

Use of Prior-Year Reserves: $476,929

Expenditures: $8,924,070

Operating Expenditures

General Government: $861,470

Police: $2,273,930

Public Safety (non-police): $496,662

Highway and Public Works: $1,622,390

Recreation: $67,260

Environmental Advisory Council: $1,550

Insurances and Benefits: $2,399,776

Contributions and Miscellaneous: $61,650

Interfund Transfers: $263,750

Total Operating Expenditures: $8,048,438

Non-Operating Expenditures

Debt Service: $183,632

Capital: $692,000

Total Non-Operating Expenditures: $875,632

Fire Protection Fund

Revenue: $442,650

Expenditures: $442,650

Operating Expenditures: $279,386

Non-Operating Expenditures: $65,751

Transfers to Reserves: $97,513

Library Fund

Revenue: $81,660

Current Year: $81,550

Use of Prior-Year Reserves: $110

Operating Expenditures: $81,660

Water Fund

Revenue: $2,028,799

Current Year: $1,942,760

Use of Prior-Year Reserves: $86,039

Expenditures: $2,028,799

Operating Expenditures: $1,806,460

Non-Operating Expenditures: $222,339

Sewer Fund

Revenue: $2,236,981

Current Year: $2,175,100

Use of Prior-Year Reserves: $61,881

Expenditures: $2,236,981

Operating Expenditures: $1,968,000

Non-Operating Expenditures: $268,981

Refuse and Recycling Fund

Revenue: $1,428,100

Operating Expenditures: $1,427,653

Transfer to Reserves: $447

Highway Aid Fund

Revenue: $479,538

Operating Expenditures: $230,000

Capital Expenditures: $80,000

Transfer to Reserves: $169,538