FREEPORT — The borough is moving forward with construction of a new $11.5 million sewage treatment plant.

Council president Rick Hastings said he does not anticipate the project impacting property taxes.

“I really don’t,” he said.

Hastings said the borough would seek grant funding and Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority loans.

“That may bring the cost back a little bit,” he said.

He said emerging technology may lessen that $11.5 million estimate.

Although Freeport had the option of tying into the Upper Allegheny Joint Sanitary Authority system in Tarentum, Hastings said the cost difference to residents would be minimal.

Hastings said the key factor in building a new plant to replace the roughly 50-year-old facility on Market Street is maintaining control of its sewage service.

“That seemed to be the big issue,” he said.

Hastings cited the consensus of council and residents he spoke to was build a new plant.

Council last week voted 5-0 to construct a new plant, but not with the support of Mayor Jim Swartz.

Swartz said he expects the cost to even exceed $11.5 million.

He also questioned whether the borough would be able to secure sufficient government funding.

In the interim, the borough is under a June 1 deadline to submit a plan on handling sewage treatment to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Freeport’s current plant needs upgraded because it does not meet state and federal guidelines by capturing at least 85 percent of the flow during the treatment process.