SEVEN FIELDS — A steady millage rate, pay increases for borough employees and an increase in water rates are part of a budget proposed Tuesday.

During a borough council meeting, manager Tom Smith outlined the 2019 budget, which will be advertised and considered by council later this year. General fund revenue is set at $1,352,711, up from $1,320,733 for 2018. Expenses are estimated at $1,352,359, leaving a $352 surplus.

“This is a sensible, conservative budget,” Smith said. “It’s what has proved to work for us, and I do strongly suggest we hold the line.”

Smith said the borough’s millage rate will stay at 7 mills for the eighth consecutive year. Revenue from borough’s earned income tax is expected to increase 1.5 percent to $710,000.

The general fund budget contains a 3.5 percent cost of living and merit increases for borough staff, as well as a 6.6 percent health insurance cost increase, Smith said.

Smith said the water fund budget contains a 26.5 percent water rate increase due to provider West View Water Authority increasing rates. The budget also includes $15,000 in merit-based salary increases for employees completing the state Water Operator Certification. He said those raises will happen in succession, not all at the same time, and awarded to whoever is first eligible.

Under public safety expenses, Smith said the borough’s contribution for the Seven Fields-Evans City Regional Police Department will increase 4.4 percent, bringing the total to $390,000. While the borough’s service agreement with Adams Area Fire District will decrease slightly to $34,489, the contribution to required radio upgrades is about $25,000, Smith said. That money is slated to come from the borough’s capital reserve fund.

The proposed budget also contains an increase in no-lien administrative processing fees. Smith said this process checks for liens against a property being sold within the borough. Currently the fees are $30 and $60 for expedited processing. Those would increase to $40 and $70, respectively.

“It’s been over 10 years since those have increased,” Smith said.

Revenue from community center rentals is expected to decrease during the first quarter of 2019 as the center is renovated. That project includes an interior renovation and the replacement of restrooms, which Smith said are not up to code. He said $100,000 is being earmarked in the capital reserve budget for the project, though an official number won’t be known until after designs are finalized.

“We feel that is more than enough to adequately do any type of improvements,” Smith said.

Other projects from the capital reserve budget include $65,000 earmarked for roof work on the borough building, and $200,000 for resurfacing on Cumberland Drive, Westburn Court, Strathmore Court and Graywyck Drive. A total of $30,000 is allotted for the 10th annual Seven Fields Carnival, though Smith said due to donations expenses for the event never reach that number.

Smith said the capital reserve budget also features a $20,000 earmark for the codification of borough ordinances. Solicitor Megan Turnbull told council the process will allow the borough to see what ordinances are incomplete or outdated and put the remaining ordinances into a logical order. It also flags potential issues or conflicts so the borough can make changes if needed.

Smith said the borough is, “pushing 100 ordinances.”

“We’ve been kicking this around,” he said. “We’ve had it in the proposed budget maybe one or two times in the last five years.”

Additionally, $25,000 is earmarked for the replacement of retiring billing software.

“We don’t think in any stretch of the imagination we’ll be at that amount,” Smith said, adding the number allows for the consideration of upgrading financial software simultaneously.

Council members Jennifer Sikora, Kim Regan-Koch and Kevin Caridad voted to advertise the proposed budget, with council not making any considerations until November.