SEVEN FIELDS — Taxes will be steady in the borough next year after council approved the 2018 general fund and water budgets at its Monday meeting.

The property tax rate will stay at 7 mills in the $1.3 million general fund budget.

A mill generates $1 in tax revenue for each $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

Each mill brings in $33,422 for the borough.

Public safety makes up the largest portion of the general fund budget at $437,421. The borough will contribute $386,145 to the Evans City Seven Fields Regional Police department for police services — an increase of $32,044 from the current year's contribution.

The Adams Area Fire District gets $34,813, and $10,000 goes to Mars to help with the fire company's workers' compensation insurance premium.

Clerical and general office expenses makes up the second largest chunk of the budget at $295,082, followed by public works at $242,861.

The budget also includes a 3 percent salary and wage increase for the borough office and public works employees.

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 council also voted Monday night to approve buying a dump truck for the public works department. The 2018 GMC 3500 dump truck will replace a 2008 GMC 4500 truck that has nearly 44,000 miles on it, said Tom Smith, borough manager.

The truck, which will cost $42,679, includes a snow plow and a salt spreader. They will receive $21,000 on trade for the old truck.

The borough set aside $50,000 to buy the truck in the 2018 general fund capital reserve project budget and will use liquid fuel funds to pay for it. Smith said there is a six- to eight-week lead time on the truck, so they needed to approve it now to get the truck in January.