A spirited debate concerning projected township salaries for next year unfolded Nov. 11 during the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners meeting.

The commissioners agreed to increase salaries for six clerical employees by 2.5 percent instead of only 2 or 2.25 percent. Deputy Mayor Jack Meyers said the higher salary increases, which will cost the township between $4,000 and $5,000, will not significantly impact the 2014 budget.

Commissioner Paul Geissinger said research he has conducted indicates salaries for middle management positions generally increase two-fold over a six-year period. Geissinger added he is pushing for a 2-percent salary increase instead of the 2.5-percent reserved to middle management.

"It's not personal," Geissinger said.

"I'd like to see if we could get them a little more," Snyder said.

"That's my point, my only point," Geissinger responded. "The gap is getting larger between the haves and have nots."

Geissinger also said the township has been able to retain many employees over the last six years.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. pointed to a case where a woman resigned to take a higher salaried position with the City of Allentown.

Police are set to receive a 2.5-percent increase and public works employees aligned with the Teamsters will receive 2-percent pay raise in 2014, Meyers said.

"I like to rein in it a little bit," Geissinger said. 'It's the moral thing to do."

Commissioner Thomas Slonaker, former township treasurer, defended the 2.5-percent raises for middle management employees. He said he decided to attend college after high school rather than enter the workforce because of the long-term benefits.

"You make choices," Slonaker said.

"We don't know what happened in their lives," Snyder said. "They are doing a good job. They are not a bunch of low lifes, that's what it sounds to me."

A vote on the budget, including salaries, will take place at the Dec. 9 meeting.

"I'm not ready for this. Nobody said this was going to be on the agenda," said Commissioner Thomas Slonaker.