ZELIENOPLE — Borough residents may have a small increase in the their property taxes next year. The borough council is considering slightly increasing its tax rate to get more money for its fire department and its library. Council president Charles Underwood proposed Monday night council look at restoring the fire department to 3 mills and the library to .5 mills, the rates before the tax assessment formula changed several years ago. The proposed increase would be less than 1 mill. Of the proposed .75 mill increase, .64 mills would go to the fire department and .11 mills would go to the library. “I think the library could use the money. And, I think the fire department could use the money,” said Underwood. The borough's current tax rate is 4.56 mills of which 1.81 mills goes to the general operating budget, 2.36 mills to the fire department and .39 mills to the library. The borough council voted Monday night to advertise its tax rate ordinance at the current rate, but could amend it if council voted for the millage increase when it approves its final 2013 budget.
