EVANS CITY — The borough council’s most recent finance committee meeting showed that halfway through 2015 the borough budget is looking good.

“We are in good shape financially,” said council President Lee Dyer.

However, income from shale gas royalties is down.

Dyer at the June 1 council meeting gave an overview on the budget.

The finance committee is comprised of Dyer plus council members Paul Foster and Dave Spithaler.

Dyer said the finance committee — comprised of Dyer plus council members Paul Foster and Dave Spithaler — checked the budget. Unlike budgets of the past, the 2015 version includes a reserve fund that allows the council to make purchases without taking out a loan.

He said council recently bought a pickup truck for $21,000 and a dump truck for $48,000 for the public works department.

“There wasn’t a penny borrowed to do that,” Dyer said.

But the committee will keep a check on funds because borough income from shale gas royalties is down about $4,000 per month so far this year.

Dyer said the estimated income from royalties is $11,000 per month. But, he said the borough is receiving about $7,000 per month.

Spithaler said the total decrease in budgeted revenue so far this year from gas royalties is down about $23,000.

“That’s something to watch,” Spithaler said.

Dyer said if the trend continues, the revenues will be down a total of $50,000 for the year due to royalty decreases.

Luckily, the sale of water from the old water plant on Lindsay Road is projected to provide about $48,000, which could largely make up for the decrease in royalties.

“So we’re slightly below target, but not greatly concerned,” Dyer said.

He said while the borough at one point was selling water for gas well fracking to tanker trucks that lined up at the former plant day and night, drillers are now using the water for boring under highways.

The latter sees one or two trucks at the plant up to three times per day.

“The (fracking) industry is pulling back slightly,” Dyer said.

He said even if water sales and royalty revenues would continue to fall, the borough could continue to maintain all necessary expenditures because additional projects will be considered due to the availability of the funds.

Dyer said potential extra projects, like the Main Street upgrade, could be put on hold should revenues fall off as the year progresses.