A tax hike may be in the offing for Salisbury Township residents in 2020.

The increase would amount to about a $34 annual increase for the typical township property owner.

Salisbury Township Business Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus told a reporter for The Press after the Sept. 26 township meeting that hikes in millage for the township fire fund and general fund are being considered as part of the 2020 budget he has been working on.

A .043 mill increase is being considered for the township fire fund. Based on the township $225,000 median assessment of houses in the township that would amount to a $9 annual increase per property owner.

A .10 mill increase is being considered for the township general fund. Based on the same median assessment that would amount to a $25 annual increase.

The increases are necessary because a $200,000 shortfall is anticipated for the 2020 township budget, according to Ziegenfus.

“We have major expenses coming,” Ziegenfus told The Press after the township meeting.

Ziegenfus cited loss of revenue from the casino grant, now being administered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and no longer allocated among Northampton and Lehigh counties municipalities.

“We need to fund the fire fund,” Ziegenfus said.

The 2020 budget includes $800,000 toward the purchase of a new fire engine pumper for Eastern Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company.

There may also be increases in the water and sewer fee, which is a pass-along charge from Lehigh County Authority, and the trash-hauling fee, which is a pass-along charge from Republic Services.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners and members of the administration got their first look at the 2020 township budget. Ziegenfus gave copies of the budget to township officials at the Sept. 26 meeting.

“We’ll be talking about it [the budget] at the next workshop,” Ziegenfus said to commissioners.

“There’s not a lot of change in the 2020 budget,” Ziegenfus said. “We’re not asking for additional personnel. We’re not asking for additional services.”

Ziegenfus said he would like for commissioners to approve the 2020 budget at the Dec. 12 township meeting. The Dec. 26 township meeting, scheduled one day after the Dec. 25 Christmas holiday, will probably be canceled,

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners’ next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Oct. 10in the meeting room of the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.