Mars Borough Council approved the 2022 budget with an increase of 1.5 mills in property taxes and a planned surplus of $45,059.75.

The borough's projected total revenue for 2022 is $1,472,615.54, and the projected total expenses are $1,427,555.79.

The budget also includes an increase in fees for water usage. The borough will move to a rate of $8.75 per 1,000 gallons, and a rate of $16 for a flat monthly fee. The flat monthly water fee in 2021 was $14.50 per month, and the per-1,000-gallons usage fee was $8.

No-parking proposal

The borough also discussed the possibility of placing new “No Parking” signs at locations around Mars, including at Norton Avenue, East School Street, Cherry Street and Bratchie Street. Norton Avenue is already typically temporarily closed for parking during football games.

Borough Council president Michael Fleming proposed holding a public hearing to determine where and whether the signs should be installed to be sure that they aren't an issue for residents and wanted to look into whether an ordinance would be required.

“We have to be made aware of that, and we should at least know about that because if we find out after the fact, it's never a very pleasant discussion,” Fleming said. “In any event, required or not required, I don't think we should do it without notifying every affected property.”