HARMONY — The borough's 2019 proposed budget is $48,000 more than the current budget with wages for the water plant employees making up the largest expenditure.

The proposed budget calls for spending $662,351 next year, which is higher than the current $614,153 budget.

Wages for the water plant workers are the single biggest change from last year's budget, up an anticipated $40,000, from $180,000 to $220,000.

Salaries for water plant workers currently make up about 33 percent of the borough's total budget.

The rest of the increased spending will go toward police services, pension expenses and health and life insurance.

Council members also discussed the “considerable amount of money” that could be saved when using LED street lights, despite an initial cost of about $7,500. They agreed that the money would be allotted to this project if next year's budget has room for it.

“It was pretty much hammered out knowing that not everybody was always going to be happy,” Don Sims, council vice president, said of the budget process. “I think we've done a nice job addressing what's considered to be the premier issues of the borough.”

The new budget will be up for approval at the Dec. 18 council meeting.