SEVEN FIELDS — Borough residents will not see a tax increase next year, according to the proposed 2018 general fund budget that was presented at Monday's council meeting.

Seven Fields will hold the millage rate steady at 7 mills in the $1.3 million budget for 2018. A mill generates $33,422 in tax revenue for the borough.

The millage rate has been the same since 2012, said Tom Smith, borough manager.

Smith said they expect to see a slight increase on revenue from real estate taxes, likely due to real estate assessments.

The borough will contribute $386,145 to the Evans City Seven Fields Police department for police services — an increase of $32,044 from the current year's contribution. The police union and police commission ratified a new five-year contract last month that includes yearly salary increases for officers.

The budget also includes an 11 percent increase in health benefits for employees and a 3 percent salary and wage increase for borough office and public works employees.

Smith said they are increasing the hours for the Town Park pool manager and assistant pool manager to have supervision there at all times. The pool manager will receive $7,320 in 2018 over the $4,513 in 2017. The assistant will receive $5,900 over the $2,030 in 2017.

In return the pool managers will have to get their American Red Cross Lifeguard certification so they can watch over the pool as needed, possibly decreasing the demand for lifeguards.

The 2018 road resurfacing program, budgeted at $200,000, includes Georgetown Court, Westburn Court, Bedford Court, Wilshire Circle and Strathmore Court. Other capital projects planned for 2018 include replacing the pool safety cover for $7,500, purchasing a new zero-turn tractor for $8,000 and replacing 46 storm sewer catch basin grates for $10,000.

The current catch basin grates are unsafe for bike tires, Smith said.

There is also $85,000 budgeted for upgrades to the community center. Phase one includes installing a metal roof and updating the facade of the building.

Jack Oakley, a council member, said he wished that they would look at replacing the whole building instead of updating the existing facility in two phases.

“It's positioned all wrong,” he said. “If we positioned the community center so it interacted with the pool, it'd be better.”

Jen Sikora, council president, said with the revenue that they get from the community center, it would be hard to justify spending more money on constructing a new building.

Smith said the results from a community-wide survey indicated that residents thought the community center was outdated both inside and out. The inside of the community center is scheduled to be renovated in 2019 in phase two, Smith said.

The borough council will vote on the final budget at its Nov. 13 meeting.