SEVEN FIELDS — Borough council at a meeting Monday night passed a preliminary budget that holds the line on taxes.

The property tax rate will remain at 7 mills, which is expected to bring in nearly $230,000 to the borough next year.

Overall, according to manager Tom Smith, council is budgeting for $1,217,265 in expenses for next year. That number is about $44,000 less than Seven Fields is expected to spend this year.

“Once again, I think it’s a fair budget,” Smith said. “It’s realistic in the sense that we continue to provide the best services we possibly can for the residents while being mindful of taxpayer dollars.”

The single largest expenditure in the preliminary budget is $366,000 in payments to Cranberry Township for police coverage.

In terms of capital reserve projects, council set aside $130,000 for costs associated with the creation of a Seven Fields/Evans City regional police department. That entity is expected to be up and running in 2015.

The budget passed unanimously and will come up for a final vote at council’s next meeting in December.