Seven Fields officials proposed a 2026 budget that maintains its property tax rate of 7 mills for the 16th consecutive year, according to preliminary figures presented at a meeting on Monday.

For property owners, 1 mill is equivalent to $1 per $1,000 of a home’s assessed value.

Borough manager Tom Smith noted the general fund budget reflects an overall decrease from the 2025 budget, which he touted as “something to be proud of.”

However, he added Seven Fields stands to lose $60,000 to $65,000 in revenue due to a lack of annual rental income from the second floor of the borough building. However, Smith said he would evaluate the borough’s price per square foot and acknowledged that agreeing to terms with a new tenant at some point in the future was still possible.

Meanwhile, there are notable increases to the cost of emergency services. Payments to Northern Regional Police are expected to rise by 6.56% to $719,100, while the borough’s contribution to the Adams Area Fire District will increase by 6.4% to $74,750.

Smith said he expects to meet with officials from the Northern Regional Police Department to go over contract details.

“I’m anticipating in January, a meeting of the public safety committee and myself with members of the Northern Regional Police Commission to either renegotiate the agreement or an extension,” he said.

Other costs are also on the rise, including a 5% increase in road salt prices to $94.57 per ton.

However, insurance costs were reduced by nearly $6,000 after the borough shopped around for coverage. The annual maintenance for three traffic signals along Route 228 is also being lowered from $14,000 to $4,800.

The proposal includes a 4% cost-of-living and merit increase for both union and non-union borough personnel, along with a 5% increase in employee health insurance costs.

In the water budget, rates will remain unchanged in 2026, with total expenses projected to decrease from the prior.