The Salisbury Township 2024 budget includes increases in taxes and fees.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners voted unanimously 5-0 to approve the 2024 budget and set tax rates at its Dec. 14 meeting, the final commissioners’ meeting for 2023.

Commissioners next meet for their township board reorganization and appointments meeting, 6 p.m. Jan. 2, 2024 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

Commissioners canceled the 7 p.m. Dec. 28 township board meeting.

The 2024 Salisbury Township budget is $19,551,290, of which the general fund is $11,034,565.

The budget has a 0.65 mills increase, from 2.92 mills in 2023 to 3.57 mills in 2024.

The library fund is unchanged at 0.06 mills.

As approved, the tax rate for general township purposes is 3.02000 mills, 0.49000 mills for fire protection purposes and 0.06000 mills for library services purposes.

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 expected to be $149, or from $668 in 2023 to $817 in 2024. Based on these amounts, that would be a monthly cost of $68, or a monthly increase of $12.

There’s a discount of 2% on the tax levied if paid on or before May 31, 2024.

There’s a penalty of 10% if not paid on or before July 31, 2024.

Approved was a 1% tax on salaries, wages, commissions and compensation earned by township residents and earned in the township by nonresidents.

Approved was a 1% tax on transfer by deed of land, tenements in the township.

Here’s an overview of the Salisbury Township 2024 budget:

General Fund

The 2024 adopted budget has general fund revenue and expenditures balanced at $11,034,565.

This includes operating expenditures: $10,191,841, including:

General government: $1,678,386

Police: $3,994,555

Public safety (non-police): $891,093

Highway and public works: $3,206,489

Recreation: $123,818

Environmental advisory: $13,100

Insurance and benefits: $257,100

Contributions and miscellaneous: $27,300

Nonoperating expenditures of $842,724, including:

Debt service: $369,524

Capital: $467,567

Fire Protection Fund

The fire protection fund has revenue and expenditures balanced at $646,600.

Library Fund

The library fund has revenue and expenditures balanced at $86,590.

Water Fund

The water fund rate is $0.0087 for each gallon of water furnished to a consumer effective Jan. 1, 2024. Starting in 2024, the township has a per-gallon rate, instead of a per-1,000-gallon rate.

The rate in 2024 is the equivalent of $8.70 per 1,000 gallons, up from $8.30 per 1,000 gallons in 2023, or a 40 cents per 1,000 gallons increase.

Of the 40-cents increase, 25 cents is for operational costs and 15 cents is for the capital fund.

The water rate operational cost increase includes a pass-along 4.7 percent water rate increase from Lehigh County Authority.

The water fund has revenue and expenditures balanced at $2,702,200.

Sewer Fund

The sewer fund for residential use is to increase $4, from $79 per quarter in 2023 to $83 per quarter in 2024.

Of the $4 increase, $2 is for operational costs and $2 is for the capital fund.

The sewer fund has revenue and expenditures balanced at $2,439,000.

Refuse and Recycling Fund

The refuse and recycling fund fee is to increase from $93 per quarter in 2023 to $108 per quarter, or $432 for the year, in 2024.

The refuse and recycling fund has revenue and expenditures balanced at $2,183,935.

Highway Aid Fund

The highway aid fund has revenue and expenditures balanced at $458,400.

The fund, derived from the state gasoline tax, is utilized for township streetlight, traffic light, equipment purchases and, when available, projects.