ZELIENOPLE — The borough council voted to raise property taxes Monday night.

In a unanimous vote, borough leaders took steps to raise the millage rate on property taxes from 1 to 1.57 mills, which translates to$29,190 in revenue from homeowners. That increase marks a bump of $75 from $29,115, which the borough collected from property owners to help fund the library last year.

The increase will provide further funding for the library.

“Things are pretty much stable,” said borough manager Don Pepe, describing the proposed 2023 operating budget overall. “That really wasn’t a lot of change. We did a lot of review of all the departments, especially the recreation department. ... There’s no increases in other aspects of the taxes.”

“And through the fact that we’ve been able to manage our contracts through these last few years, and to keep them under our control, I think that we’ve done a heck of a job with that,” he said.

The tax increase for the library highlights a budget marked by few changes as it advances through a 10-day public comment period toward final approval Dec. 12.

Pepe said that Pennsylvania state law requires that municipal governments pass ordinances in order to change millage in any way, whether that’s up or down. If a real estate tax remains the same, he said, a municipal government can confirm a millage rate by resolution instead.

The borough also approved applications for state grants to replace waterlines and improve sewage.

Council leaders are asking for $2 million in funding from the H2O PA Program Grant to repair waterlines toward the southern end of town — Pine Street, McKim Street and Hazel Street.

They also are asking for further funds from the PA Small Water and Sewer Program, funds which would amount to less than $500,000, to repair another waterline loop near Market Street.

The council also confirmed Kyra Fazio as a new junior council member for Zelienople.

The Junior Council Member Program provides young professionals who have an interest in government with firsthand experience in municipal government.

“I just want to say my son was on it,” councilman Andrew J. Matthew III told Fazio. “He really enjoyed it. You get a lot out of it. You can get to see what we do. The only thing you’re not allowed to do is vote.”

Matthew also noted that junior council members don’t participate in executive sessions, which are closed to the public.

His son remained in the program for four years, he added.

“I actually want to be a teacher, for middle school, but I want to focus on English and history, so learning about government through this would help in the history aspect,” said Fazio.