As of the end of the second quarter Bensalem Township is running about $5.8 million under budget for the 2026 fiscal year but that could change due to police department hirings, funding from a federal grant for fire prevention ending and rising municipal costs.
Municipal Administrator John Chaykowski stated at the meeting that the township is going to be under budget by about $5.8 million compared to what was budgeted, but that things can change before the year ends.
According to Council President Ed Tokmajian Jr., items that the township are falling under budget on include police by $3 million, fire by $500,000, public works by $760,000 and building and planning by $380,000
Chaykowski explained that the reason for this was because of open positions in all five areas of interest.
“We are down about five police officers at this point. We have some going into the academy towards the end of this year, and I think we’re going to be hiring one that’s gonna start straight on the street. We are down a few officers at this point, that will effect budget purposes, so that $2.7 million for salaries’ and benefits we’re down right now, that I project to increase when these officers get their roles and everything like that.” Chaykowski explained to the council.
Health insurance costs for employees also came in $800,000 under budget Chaykowski said.
In spite of this, the township is expect to still draw from its general fund, with Chaykowski telling Council that instead of ending with $8.9 million they’ll be ending with $16.8 million fund balance.
“$16 million, is that still falling on the short side?” Tokmajian Jr asked.
Chaykowski explained to the Council that the township is doing what it can to keep taxes at its current levels so it they wouldn’t negatively impact residents of the township.
“The township is growing, and the township hasn’t raised taxes in 30 years, so we do what we can to not affect the residents as best as we can, but it is less then we had in the balance at the end of 2025, and we’ll see what happens at the end of 26.” Chaykowski said.
Chaykowski further added that the township is doing it’s best in handling the rise of prices from salaries and benefits to the use of vehicles and pipes that go into the ground, which includes not filling key township positions
Council Vice President Jesse Sloan stated that while the township isn’t in a deficit at the moment thanks to the decent amount of money in the general fund, it should be spent carefully as it won’t always be there.
“The real issue is that fund balance that you’re talking about, that cash balance is not going to be there forever. We don’t have very long to draw that amount of money out of that fund balance.” Sloan said to Chaykowski.
When asked what the township could do to mitigate expenses, Chaykowski stated that it would have to be something Council came together to discuss as a team.
Councilman John Wenzel Jr. asked a couple of question to Chaykowski, starting with how the budget will look after their fire safe grant expires.
“So the fire safer grant is over $46,000, when that expires what is our plan?” Wenzel Jr. asked.
“As part of the acceptance safer grant, you’re obligated to continue to pay for that firemen, so it’s going to come down to a situation of us looking to see what our needs are. We’re not gonna get rid of the fire fighters obviously, it’s gonna come down to figuring out how to pay for them.” Chaykowski told council.
Anther grant question Wenzel Jr. asked was in regards to a grant involving solar panels being attached to the street lamps.
Chaykowski stated that five years ago the street lamps had been upgraded to LED lights and wireless controls, which alone saved the township money on electric. He did tell Wenzel Jr. that he would look into applying for a solar powered grant for the township.
Tokmajian Jr. asked why Police vehicles were reportedly over budget. Chaykowski explained that it was due to a drone vehicle that went out of commission suddenly.
A drone vehicle went out of commission. It was just something that happened, so funds were allocated to fund a new vehicle,” Chaykowski said.
“We don’t spend to spend,” Chaykowski said “its doing what we need to on a daily basis”
One other budget matter came up during public comment from a resident from Hansel Drive.
At Bensalem’s last council meeting on Aug. 12, Township Engineer Nicole Khan gave an update that progress was being made on getting the retention pond fixed on the Armstrong property.
When asked if Hansel Dr. was going to be included in the 2027 budget, Chaykowski stated that the township wants to evaluate what the basin does first.
“The main thing is tackle the basin, evaluate what the basin does to Hansel’s drainage system, and then we’ll evaluate what needs to be done for Hansel Dr.” Chaykowski explained to the concerned resident.
“With the two systems colliding together at the same time you’re not getting an accurate judge at this point. If we can create more of a detention retention slow release basin in the background it will reduce the impact to the Hansel system, where if a rainfall happens, you don’t have Armstrong coming in and Hansel, and Street Rd overwhelming the drainage system.”
Chaykowski explained that while he can’t say Hansel Dr. won’t be in the budget for 2027, the basin system is going to be a factor in where the township moves forward with how to stop the flooding on Hansel Dr.
Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo stated that stage two of the Hansel Dr. project will be big because a lot has already been engineered over the years.
Editor’s Note: Publisher Jeff Bohen contributed to this report
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