SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Township employees have raises coming their way.

Supervisors approved a 65-cent raise for all employees from their base rate of $21.80 per hour. Secretary Christina Barkley specified the rate is set for the township’s current employees, but new employees may earn more.

Jason Allen, township road foreman and new supervisor, abstained from the vote since his pay is still being adjusted. Allen is taking over for Supervisor Terry Doerr, who resigned in December.

Supervisor Paul Dickey abstained from a vote regarding the rate for working supervisors when assisting in the township, such as with the road crew. Dickey had previously taken a lower salary when assisting, but supervisors Allen and John Hines wanted to raise his rate to $21.80 in keeping with the other employees.

The township restructured its pay schedule to switch to QuickBooks for payroll. Secretaries Barkley and Trista Dennison said they adjusted the pay schedule to avoid additional hardship for employees, so payday will be changed to Friday after the township submits payroll Wednesday.

Payroll was previously submitted Monday for payday Tuesday, but QuickBooks needs an additional day for processing. Township employees are paid biweekly, working from Sunday to Saturday.

The switch also will put township payroll a week behind, so the first paycheck township employees receive will be for only one week.

“This is the only way it makes sense, and it will hurt everybody the first time because we’re moving from (being paid) the 14th to the 17th, and we’ll be a week behind,” Barkley said.

Dickey said the previous payroll system was an antiquated DOS-based system, and the township has been in need of an upgrade. Dickey will work with the secretaries to look for other feasible options.

“We’ve been talking for years about getting on QuickBooks, and we’re finally there,” Dickey said.

With the exception of the new supervisor, roles will remain largely the same in 2025. Dickey and Hines will continue as the board chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

Some rates, such as consulting and legal fees increased. Township solicitor Mike Hnath of Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham, will receive an increase from $195 to $200 per hour, and flood plain consultant Gary Johnson will receive an increase from $50 to $60. Zoning Hearing Board solicitor Alan Shaddinger will be paid $100 per hour. Real estate tax collector Lisa Steele will remain at the same rate at 3% with a $30,000 bond.

The township planning commission also submitted its annual report, citing nine subdivisions or land development plans and five lot revisions or consolidations in 2024. It called 11 meetings and canceled two.