The preliminary Mars borough budget approved at a meeting on Thursday night has an increase of 1.5 mills in property taxes for 2022.

Fees for water usage have also increased. The borough is moving to a rate of $8.75 per 1,000 gallons, and a rate of $16 for a flat monthly fee.

“We've compared that against a lot of the other water suppliers in the area, and it's still below the average,” said Bonnie Forsythe, secretary and treasurer.

The flat monthly water fee in 2021 was $14.50 per month, and the “per 1,000 gallons” usage fee was $8.

The borough's projected total revenue for 2022 is $1,472,615.54, and the projected total expenses are $1,427,555.79 leaving a planned surplus of $45,059.75.

The 2022 budget allots more money — $25,000 in total — as revenue from the real estate transfer tax than the previous budget, in which only $15,000 was budgeted. The reduced amount was due to COVID-19.

In 2021, Mars borough ended up earning about $24,329 from the real estate transfer tax, a number more aligned with the past three years, in which the average revenue was just over $24,789.

The budget will be advertised and posted online for 10 days before adoption at a borough council meeting on Dec. 13.