The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners is taking another look at the 2025 budget and reviewing options in light of possible capital improvement needs in coming years.

Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus presented a 10-year capital plan summary for the general fund 2025-2034 during the township workshop following the Nov. 14 meeting.

Township commissioners also reviewed and discussed 2025 budget requests from the township public works department, Eastern and Western Salisbury volunteer fire companies and community development department.

During the regular meeting, commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a motion authorizing advertisement of the public inspection period for the proposed 2025 budget. Commissioner Alex Karol made the motion, seconded by Commissioner Alok Patnaik, to bring the motion to a vote.

The proposed 2025 budget draft can be viewed on the township website: https://salisburylehighpa.gov/.

A copy of the 2025 budget draft can be read at the township municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave., during office hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“In our first draft, we didn’t see a budget tax increase,” Ziegenfus explained to a reporter for The Press after the combined two-hour Nov. 14 meeting and workshop.

“And without a tax increase, we show a $400,000 deficit,” Ziegenfus said.

“On second look at capital expenses, we’re now exploring funding options,” Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich told a reporter for The Press after the Nov. 11 meeting.

“We’re dealing with rising costs and we’re discussing how we can put funds into the capital reserve for the future,” Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners President Debra Brinton said.

At the Oct. 24 workshop, indications were a budget hike for 2025 might be avoided. After the workshop, a reporter for The Press asked if there would be a township tax increase in 2025. “We’re not proposing one,” Bonaskiewich said.

The 2025 general fund budget as stated is $11,392,650. That’s down from the 2024 general fund budget projected to be $11,636,712.

Ziegenfus seemed to back the no tax-hike philosophy for 2025 in his 2025 budget narrative.

“As inflation continues and various capital needs of the township arose this year, we will need to use prior-year reserves to cover a projected general fund deficit of approximately $400,000,” Ziegenfus stated in his executive summary in the 304-page township 2025 budget.

“We were able to look for items to reduce or defer into future years and bring the budget deficit to $400,000 to be covered by prior-year reserves,” Ziegenfus stated.

“This draft budget does not include a real estate tax increase,” Ziegenfus stated.

The township tax rate for 2024 is 3.57 mills. Based on the average township tax assessment of $234,011, the average township real estate tax bill is $818.71.

The township increased taxes from 2.92 mills in 2023 to 3.57 mills for the 2024 budget.

The proposed budget deliberations are expected to continue at the 7 p.m. Nov. 26 board of commissioners meeting, which is being held two days before what would have been the regular Nov. 28 township meeting date because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The 2025 budget and tax ordinance is expected to be presented for adoption at the 7 p.m. Dec. 12 board of commissioners meeting.

Public Works

Highlights of 2024 in public works, and outlined during the Nov. 14 workshop by Salisbury Township Director, Public Works Jim Levernier, include:

- Installed new sand volleyball court at Lindberg Park

- Installed new signs at River Road Park, Lindberg Park, Franko Park, Devonshire and Frank McCullough Sr. Park

- Purchased and installed new playground equipment at Lindberg Park

- Installed new water main on Jack Kelly Drive and Linden Court

- Contracted rehabbing 175 manhole linings for sanitary sewer system

- Repaired more than 50 catch basins

- Replaced more than 200 street signs

- Paved numerous township roads and streets

- Purchased 2025 Mack Granite Dump Truck (replacing 2014 International)

- Purchased 8-ton roller to allow for more in-house paving projects

- Planted 52 street trees

Fire Services

Highlights of 2024 in fire services, according to the budget narrative, and outlined during the workshop by Salisbury Township Director of Fire Services Dustin Grow, include:

- Fire inspectors have created and begun administering a food truck inspection program to ensure safety at public events.

- Combined responses of the fire companies will be nearly 600 calls. Hours spent training and conducting community affairs that are logged are more than 3,000 hours.

- Several fire investigations were completed, including three major fire investigations. Inspectors completed approximately 400 inspections, 100 re-inspections, 70 responses, 10 investigations, 40 complaints and approximately 26 food truck inspections.