A 5.6% tax increase is under consideration for property owners in Salisbury Township for 2025.

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners discussed the 2025 township budget during the workshop following the Nov. 26 township meeting, moved up from what would have been the regular Nov. 28 meeting date because of the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Township commissioners are expected to vote on the 2025 township budget, which could include a tax hike, at their next meeting 7 p.m. Dec. 12 in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

Based on the township average tax assessment of $234,011, a tax hike of 5.6% is expected to result in an annual increase of $45.87 and a monthly increase of $3.82 for a property owner.

If paid by the discount deadline, the annual tax amount would be $114.67 in 2025, up from $68.80 in 2024.

The tax millage in the township would increase by .20 mills, from 3.57 mills in 2024 to 3.77 mills in 2025.

The tax increase is deemed necessary by the township administration in order to bolster the township capital fund for infrastructure improvements, expenditures in public safety and fire protection.

“We will be spending a million a year on average on capital,” Salisbury Township Director of Finance Paul Ziegenfus told commissioners at the Nov. 26 workshop.

“We would be in the negative for the next two to three years,” Ziegenfus said if there is not a tax increase.

The new millage rate is expected to generate real estate revenue of $646,000 in 2025 based on 3.77 mills, providing a $259,000 increase from the real estate revenue of $387,000 generated in 2024 based on 3.57 mills.

The revenue amount of $646,000 would be dedicated to the capital fund. To that would be added $250,000 in grants for capital revenue of $896,000. Total capital expenditures would be $1,146,083, which would result in a deficit of $250,083.

The 2025 budget would have general fund operating revenues of $11,041,650 and general fund operating expenditures of $10,936,198 for a surplus of $105,452.

The 2025 township budget would have general fund revenues of $11,937,650 and general fund expenditures of $12,082,281 for a deficit of $144,631.

The deficit would be offset with funds from the township fund balance of $1,800,000, which, minus the capital fund deficit, is expected to result in an ending fund balance pf $1,549,917.

The township 2025 budget information was provided to a reporter for The Press by Salisbury Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich and Ziegenfus.

In a plan proposed by Bonaskiewich and Ziegenfus, the .20 mills annual increase could also be implemented in each of the 2026 and 2027 budgets.

Thereafter, a tax increase is not foreseen in annual budgets for the years 2028 through 2034 in the capital fund forecast presented by Ziegenfus to commissioners.

Ziegenfus had presented a 10-year capital plan summary for the general fund 2025-2034 during the township workshop following the Nov. 14 meeting.

At the Nov. 14 meeting, township commissioners reviewed and discussed 2025 budget requests from the township public works department, Eastern Salisbury Fire Department, Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Company and community development department.

Commissioners voted at the Nov. 14 township meeting to approve advertisement of the public inspection period for the proposed 2025 budget.

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 during office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

At the Nov. 26 meeting, commissioners voted 4-0 for:

- Resolution to revise the Salisbury Township Local Share Account Statewide grant of $663,733 from the Commonwealth Financing Authority to acquire updated radios and communication technology.

Commissioners voted at the Nov. 14 meeting to apply for $829,666.24. However, the new grant request reflects the township’s commitment of 20% in funds for the project’s cost, Bonaskiewich explained before the vote. “This is a redo of the resolution,” Bonaskiewich said.

- Resolution to approve a revised major subdivision plan by Thomas P. Williams Sr. at 621 E. Lynwood St.

Williams was represented by Attorney Ronald E. Corkery of Corkery & Almonti Attorneys At Law, Whitehall.

“We are agreeing to all the terms in the engineering letter,” Corkery said. “We did extensive tests. It’s one area and we’re doing restoration there,” Corkery said, referring to soil environmental tests for potential pesticides at the site of a former greenhouse where two single homes and two twin homes are to be built by Williams.

- Motion approving Payment No. 1 of $232,650 to Wexcon, Inc. for Louise Lane waterline project.

- Motion approving pavilion reservation policy update.

Bonaskiewich stated in an email to a reporter for The Press: “Basically, we increased reservation fees, eliminated refundable security deposits and tweaked the nonprofit organizations accordingly. In addition, we changed verbiage to incorporate the new RecDesk online reservation platform we’re now using.”

Pavilion reservations increase from $25 to $50 for residents, $100 to $150 for nonresidents, $25 to $100 for township businesses and organizations, $100 to $200 for nontownship businesses and organizations, $50 for nonprofit township organizations and $100 for nonprofit non township organizations.

The December Salisbury Township municipal meeting schedule is: 7 p.m. Dec. 4, planning commission; 7 p.m. Dec. 11, zoning hearing board, canceled; 7 p.m. Dec. 12, board of commissioners; 7 p.m. Dec. 18, environmental advisory council and 7 p.m. Dec. 26, board of commissioners.