Second of two parts

Salisbury Township residents who use public water provided by the Lehigh County Authority will have to pay even more in 2020.

In 2020, for Salisbury properties served by the LCA, water rates are to be raised by $8 quarterly or $32 annually.

Previously, the pass-along increase was to be $6 quarterly or $24 annually. The water rate is to increase from $6.60 per 1,000 gallons to $7 per 1,000 gallons.

The 2020 sewer rate increase is the same: $3 quarterly or $12 annually.

In addition, for Salisbury property owners, on average, taxes for the township fire fund are to be raised by $18, or 0.081 of a mill, and for the township General Fund, by $31, or 0.14 of a mill. The increases are based on the $225,000 median assessment of properties in the township.

The estimated overall increase per residence is now $93 in taxes and fees, on average, and is derived from adding together the $32 water rate hike, the $12 sewer rate hike, the $18 fire fund hike and the $31 general fund hike.

Previously, the overall increase was to be $85.

Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus said water and sewer fees raised by LCA for 2020 will be passed along for township residences that utilize the services.

Ziegenfus told a reporter for The Press after the Nov. 26 meeting workshop the previously-announced water rate hike for township residents was about $30,000 short of the actual LCA increase.

“I budgeted a little low on the water,” Ziegenfus said during the workshop.

“You were waiting on final numbers,” Commissioner James Seagreaves noted to Ziegenfus during the workshop concerning the LCA water rate hike.

“Unfortunately, I think we’re going to see that every year,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said of the LCA hike.

“It seems like at the last meeting we had things ironed out,” board of commissioners President Debra Brinton said during the Nov. 26 workshop when the 2020 budget discussion took place.

“There’s nothing extraordinary in this budget,” Brinton said at the conclusion of the workshop.

After the workshop, commissioners met in executive session for personnel matters, Brinton announced.

Commissioners are expected to review and vote on the 2020 Budget and Tax Ordinance, 7 p.m. Dec. 12, in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

The 111-page 2020 draft budget is available for public review at the township municipal building and on the township website, under Township Information: https://www.salisburytownshippa.org/township-info/budget.

The Salisbury Township 2020 General Fund Budget is $8,400,947 and, combined with all budget categories, the total 2020 budget is $16,696,970.

This is the second of three parts about the 2020 budget. This part looks at the Capital Fund. The first part, published in the Nov. 27 Salisbury Press, looked at the General Fund.

Following are highlights of the 2020 Capital Fund Budget categories, expenditures and projects.

A state recycling grant that covered township equipment and vehicles purchases and the Casino Grant that covered township police vehicles and equipment purchases ended in 2019. The 2019 recycling grant was $221,000. The 2019 casino grant was $107,000.

Capital, General

$493,476

There’s $30,000 budgeted for Building Capital Equipment to replace the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system in the municipal building.

Police Department

Two vehicles are to be replaced in the police department at a total cost of $54,000.

Replacement of mobile data terminals in patrol vehicles will cost $12,000. Replacement of mobile license plate readers in patrol vehicles will cost $20,000.

Public Works Department

Two pieces of equipment are to be replaced in the Public Works Department, including a pickup truck with plow, to cost $40,000, and a paving vehicle, to cost $155,000.

The equipment is expected to be paid for with $195,000 in highway aid funding.

Road projects are budgeted at $250,000.

Fire Fund

$381,200

Capital, Fire

$368,994

The township has budgeted $120,000 for architect fees related to the construction of the new Western Salisbury Fire Department Station.

The township plans to finance construction of the new station through the United States Department of Agriculture. It’s anticipated the township will begin payment for the loan in July 2020.

The timeline for start of the loan and construction of the station is uncertain as of the 2020 budget.

Parks and Recreation Department

New park equipment and construction costs for additional pickle ball courts are budgeted at $20,000.

Library Fund

The township will contribute $86,100 to the Allentown Public Library, an increase from $81,660 in 2019.

Water Fund

$2,018,765

Capital, Water

$107,200

Sewer Fund

$2,177,117

Capital, Sewer

$309,000

Refuse and Recycling

$1,508,695

Debt

$183,476

Highway

$662,000

Total

$16,696,970

Next Week: Salisbury Township 2020 Budget overview.