MARS — Borough residents will not have a tax increase this year, but will see a slight increase in their water bills.

Borough council on Dec. 28 passed a $987,242 budget for 2016 that holds the line on property taxes.

Mayor Gregg Hartung said the council has not approved a tax increase in more than 12 years.

This year’s budget is down almost $113,000 from last year’s $1.1 million budget.

Council President Mike Fleming said Tuesday that the 2015 budget was higher because it included some one-time expenditures that were not required this year.

He said no jobs would be affected due to the decrease, and that the millage rate will remain at 16.88.

“There are no real significant changes (from the 2015 budget,)” Fleming said. “Everything is pretty much status quo.”

But one change is a small increase in water charges, which will go from $6 to $6.65 per 1,000 gallons. The base rate of $12 per month will remain unchanged.

Fleming said the borough will use the extra money to continue an upgrade of the water system over the next several years by replacing old meters with new, digital versions.

“This will help with more accurate readings and (provide) a new improved way to track needed repairs in the system,” Fleming said.

Other projects included in this year’s budget include replacing the infrastructure and paving on Lincoln Avenue, which is one of the borough’s original brick streets, and continuing with the Main Street revitalization plan.

Officers on the seven-member council were elected on Monday, Hartung said.

Fleming will continue as council president, and Robert Bost was elected vice president. Pro tem president is Rick Foster.