Salisbury Commissioners Get First Look at 2013 Budget

The Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners began working on the 2013 budget Thursday and is hoping to stave off a tax increase.

Township Manager Randy Soriano presented early figures at the board's Thursday night workshop meeting, but did not release budget documents to the press. Officials are uncertain whether there will be a tax increase as they examine revenue and expenses, which include requests by the public works and police departments to hire additional personnel.

The public works department has lost six workers since 2005, including four retirements since May. Director John Andreas has asked to hire two workers, which Soriano said could be paid out of different budget funds.

Police Chief Allen Stiles requested to hire two officers, which includes filling a vacancy. Stiles said the officers would be put on patrol and he hoped to promote another officer to detective in 2014.

"We are getting busier and busier with investigations," Stiles said. "One day we won't be able to keep up. Calls are up. We are very, very busy."

Soriano said the request for an additional officer would cost $100,000 from the operating budget.

Soriano said if more money is needed to cover personnel costs, taxes may need to be raised, although he said that was not his goal. "You can't rely on real estate tax," he said.

"Eventually, won't we have to increase taxes? Everything goes up," said Commissioner Debra Brinton.