Lansford borough officials are continuing to craft a 2010 budget, trimming expenses where they can and hoping to avoid a property tax increase.

Budget talks are planned for 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Dec. 7 in the borough office above the fire station on Patterson Street. A special meeting for budget and finance and general purposes is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 21 at the community center on Ridge Street.Currently, the property tax is 25.11 mills. That means the owner of a home assessed at $25,000 pays $627 a year. However, many homeowners continue to struggle with un-or-underemployment, and have been unable to pay their taxes.Each mill generates $34,057 in revenue; if everyone paid their taxes, that would bring and an estimated $855,171 into borough coffers. But Lansford's collection rate is a dismal 83 percent, according to borough secretary/treasurer Nicole Tessitore.That leaves officials with the task of stretching already thin dollars to cover absolute necessities. They have begun making cuts, including a 2 percent pay increase for non-union employees, and shopping around for a different health insurance provider.The borough now pays $187,780 a year for its 13 employees' coverage. But that cost is expected to increase by $90,000 next year, so officials are researching alternative plans.In addition, a pending police contract, an increase in Workers' Compensation and insurance and the Police Pension Minimum Municipal Obligation also need to be factored into next year's spending plan.A final budget must be in place by year's end.