Forks Township will begin the year with its police department not having a new contract.

Township supervisors approved an $8.1 million municipal budget for 2013 at its last meeting of the year on Dec. 20. That budget included nearly $3 million for police costs.

Township Solicitor Karl Kline had recently stated that talks were under way for a new deal. The police department's five-year contract expired Monday.

But talks broke down and now an arbitrator will hold a hearing in March to determine a contract for the police department, according to the Easton Express-Times.

The police department under Police Chief Greg Dorney has 23 full-time police officers.

During budget discussions, Dorney was told that he wouldn't be able to replace a full-time officer and had to curb expenses and withhold expanding operations.