First of two parts

The 2024 Salisbury Township proposed budget has been approved for advertising and public inspection.

A vote on the 2024 budget and tax ordinance adoption is expected at the 7 p.m. Dec. 14 township meeting in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

The budget, as required by law, is available to the public 20 days before final adoption.

The 2024 township budget is available on the township website: https://www.salisburytownshippa.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2024-Budget-advertised-rev.-11-21-23.pdf.

A copy of the 2024 township budget is also available at the front desk in the township municipal building.

The township board of commissioners approved advertising the proposed budget by a unanimous vote of 5-0 at the Nov. 21 meeting, held two days earlier than the regular Nov. 23 meeting date because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Commissioners have a regular second monthly meeting, 7 p.m. Dec. 28, scheduled, but plan to cancel that meeting, barring any complications concerning the budget at the Dec. 14 meeting.

The refuse and recycling contract is expected to be awarded at the Dec. 14 meeting. The contract with Republic Services concludes Dec. 31.

“I was very pleased to get five bids,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press before the Nov. 21 meeting.

Bids were opened and are being reviewed by the township administration, Bonaskiewich said. Seven bid packages were requested. Five bids were submitted.

An increase in refuse-recycling fees for township residents is expected to be announced at the Dec. 14 meeting.

“Paul [Ziegenfus, Salisbury Township director of finance] has already built an increase in the budget in anticipation of true bid results,” Bonaskiewich told The Press.

Ziegenfus chaired twice monthly budget workshops, beginning in August. The 133-page budget draft includes an executive summary by Ziegenfus, reviews 2023 and a look ahead to 2024.

The township general fund budget is $10,712,366.

General fund millage is to increase by 0.45 mills, or 0.40 mills for the general fund, from 2.32 mills in 2023 to 2.72 mills in 2024 and 0.05 mills for the general fund-capital, from 0.25 in 2023 to 0.30 in 2024.

The fire fund is to increase 0.20 mills, from 0.29 mills in 2023 to 0.49 in 2024.

The library fund is unchanged at 0.06 mills from 2023 to 2024.

If final approval is granted by commissioners, based on the average township tax assessment of $233,569 for 5,660 taxable parcels, the annual tax increase for the combined general fund, general fund-capital, fire fund and library fund for township residents is $149, or from $668 in 2023 to $817 in 2024. That would be a monthly cost of $68, or a monthly increase of $12.

Water and sewer fees are to increase in the township.

The water fund increase would be $.40 per 1,000 gallons in 2024, or for a customer who uses 15,000 gallons per quarter, the increase would be approximately $6 per quarter or $24 per year.

The sewer fund increase would be $4 per quarter.

The refuse and recycling fee is proposed to increase from $93 per quarter to $104 per quarter in 2024.

In his executive summary, Ziegenfus reviewed 2023, stating:

“In 2023, we have been able to fill all vacancies across the township, including hiring three new officers in July 2023 and replacing vacancies in the public works department.

“As expected, now that we are fully-staffed, employee salaries are increasing as staff receive cost of living increases and some new employees move through the pay scale. In addition, benefit costs continue to increase as well.

“In 2023, we were not immune to inflationary pressures that everyone in the world is experiencing. Everyday items that the township purchases have increased significantly over the past two years. We are projecting inflation to stabilize as we have estimated smaller increases in 2024 but the budget has definitely felt the impact of inflation.”

In the budget report, Ziegenfus outlined the need for an increase in the water fund fee for township residents:

“We received rate increases of 4.7 percent from Lehigh County Authority. This will need to be passed through to all water system users.

“In addition, we are budgeting an additional utility department employee so we can tackle major capital projects in-house, instead of contracting out this work at a higher cost. With an additional employee dedicated to the utility department, we will be able to replace approximately 1,500 feet of water line pipe every year.

“In the past, we would contract this work out every three or four years. By bringing this in-house, we will save almost $2 million over 10 years.

“With the increases in budgeted expenditures to the water fund, we are proposing an increase of $.40 per 1,000 gallons in 2024. The additional cost to a water customer that uses 15,000 gallons per quarter is approximately $6 per quarter or $24 per year.

“Similar to the water fund, the sewer fund expenditures have also increased due to cost increases imposed by Lehigh County Authority and City of Bethlehem. In addition, we are required to increase the amount of Infiltration and Inflow imposed on us by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. With the increases in budgeted expenditures in the sewer fund, we are proposing an increase of $4 per quarter.”

Concerning refuse and recycling, Ziegenfus stated in his executive summary:

“Our current trash contract expires Dec. 31. Based on bids received, we estimate the trash contract will increase by 11 percent. With this increase and other inflationary increases, we are proposing a rate increase from $93 per quarter currently to $104 per quarter in 2024.

Highlights in the 2024 budget include:

Major accomplishments in township government in 2023, according to Ziegenfus:

•Continued to increase the number of online bill payers through Xpress Bill Pay.

•Implemented a new collection service contract with Portnoff Law Associates to assist with the collection of delinquent utility bills. This new service improved collection efforts immediately.

•Hired Gross McGinley LLP as the new attorney for the township.

•Hired Barry Isett and Associates as the new township engineer.

•Significant number of accomplishments in technology.

•Township staff installed a new energy efficient HVAC system at the administration building. By installing the system by township employees, the township saved approximately $300,000. Township employees upgraded park structures.

•Purchased property across South Pike Avenue from township buildings. The utility department and its equipment will be moved there in 2024. Other uses of the property to be determined.

The 7 p.m. Nov. 29 Salisbury Township Planning Commission meeting has been canceled.

Next week: Department overviews in 2024 Salisbury Township budget.