PRESS RELEASE Salisbury Township Commissioners Adopt 2010 Budget, Holds taxes. Prior year reserves utilized to balance the budget. At its December 22, 2009 meeting, the Township Commissioners approved a proposed $11,564,550 (Total Funds: General Fund-Water-Sewer-Fire-Debt-Highway-Library) 2010 budget that keeps taxes steady, but utilizes approximately $1,341,850 in prior year reserves to balance the budget. The General Fund alone will utilize $689,300 from prior year reserves to balance the $7,381,600 operational budget.  Decline in lagging revenues from 2009 such as Real Estate Transfer down $250,000 and Interest Earnings down $150,000, has prompted the Township to dip into their reserves instead of raising taxes. Mr. Soriano commented that if the economy does not turn around in 2010, “a tax increase should be seriously considered”. Expenditures will increase by 7.6% and is attributed to rising contractual wage costs (4%), fringe benefits, pensions and health insurance (11.2%). The Budget also calls for continuing the funding of an additional FT Officer for the police department hired through a Safe Streets Grant in 2009, bringing the staffing of FT patrol officers to 12 and additional administrative staff for the Police and Zoning departments. The proposed budget also contains $3,150,100 in capital projects and equipment purchases. Of that, $828,500 is from capital reserves. The remainder is expected to be financed through a General Obligation Note totaling $2,300,000. Township Manager Randy Soriano commented that approximately $2 million dollars will be used to renovate “the police department administration building which has long been neglected and the Township will borrow the funds to cover this expense”.  Other projects include: $140,000 (General Fund) in material for miscellaneous road maintenance improvements and microsurfacing; $310,00 (Highway Fund) for the reconstruction of Flexer Avenue from East Texas Blvd. to Cedar Crest Blvd. in conjunction with the water line replacement of $321,600 (GO Note);  $310,000 (Sewer Fund) for the elimination of the sewer pumping station at Patricia Drive; $74,500 for fire-related expenses-[Western Salisbury FD Truck upgrades ($29,500), Eastern Salisbury FD ($45,000) for Fire Station upgrades]; $85,000 for two 4x2 Public Works Dump Trucks equally split between the Water and Sewer Funds and $120,000 for a new dump truck split between the GF($20,000) and Highway Fund($100,000); $49,000 for a new Groundmaster mower for upkeep of the Parks; $120,000 for the reconstruction of the tennis court at Lindberg Park. The Township generates much of its revenue through the Earned Income Tax, approximately $1.9 Million is expected to be collected and $1.32 Million from the Real Estate Tax. The millage rate is expected to remain at 3.51 mills, including 3.09 for General Fund, 0.24 for Fire purposes and 0.18 for Library services. For example, a property owner who has a home assessed at $70.000 will pay $316 in Township real estate taxes ($216.30 for General Fund; $16.80 for Fire Protection; $12.60 for Library services). Fees for sewer and trash/recycling collection services are expected to remain at last years levels. No increases are contemplated. Water customers may see an increase of 10% on their yearly bill or $40 per year. The City of Allentown announced that their rates will increase by 10% and the Township most likely will pass on the increase.  The increase to our residents will be $0.24, which for our residents is a 4.8% increase over the current water rate of $4.92.  Based on an “average” annual consumption of 100,000 gallons for a family of four, that would be equivalent to an increase of $24. If the spending plan holds true for all funds, the ending fund balances for all funds will be approximately $10,398.885. Randy Soriano Township Manager 2010 Budget Click here to download the budget. 2009 Budget Click here for more information. 2008 Financial Statements and Audit Report Click here for more information.