Coaldale council is beginning to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

But that doesn't mean the tracks are clear ahead.During a budget meeting Tuesday, council members reviewed the status of the budget for 2014, which is a key to planning the 2015 budget. Their task was easier due to the borough's revised accounting procedures, implemented by secretary/treasurer Andrea Davis, who was hired in October 2013."We had way too many accounts to keep track of; there were 53 bank accounts and 270 expense accounts," Davis said."Currently we have 12 bank accounts and 180 expense accounts; you'll find it easier to understand where we're at so we can make better decisions."Davis provided numbers on the budget as of Sept. 1. Despite numerous challenges the current council has tackled, such as restoring the borough's police force, the borough needs to bring in about $30,000 to be able to balance the budget at the end of the year.Ironically, one of the places the borough saved money was within the police department budget. The 2014 budget included a $53,000 salary for Police Chief Tim Delaney. But from January through August, Delany was off on disability and three-quarters of his salary was paid through workers' compensation.During the meeting, council members discussed ways to develop next year's budget, especially in light of expected expenses which will involve repairs to the borough's sewer system and to the roof of the Coaldale Complex, which is the former Coaldale High School. The borough owns the school and rents it to a Head Start group, but the flat rubber roof is leaking.Repairs to the roof have been estimated to be about $200,000. The price tag on repairs to a busted sewer line under Route 209 is still unknown, although engineering fees to plan the project have cost $20,000.One of the biggest challenges on the income side of the budget are the delinquent real estate taxes. In 2013, and again in 2014, about $440,000 in real estate taxes have not been collected. As of the end of August this year, the borough has collected $631,252 in real estate taxes and projects to collect about another $100,000 before the end of the year. However, that will still leave $440,000 delinquent and unlikely to be recovered.Council members discussed several ways to save money; one way is to spend money. Davis told them that this year, the borough has spent about $15,000 in repairs to the town truck. She pointed out that the borough can use about 20 percent of liquid fuels money to purchase equipment, and suggested that the borough purchase a new truck next year.Council may also consider raising the sewer maintenance fee, which is currently $25 per year. The fee was set in 2001 and has not been raised since then. The $25 fee raised about $36,000 this year; raising the fee could help pay for sewer line repairs. By comparison, the sewer maintenance fee in Lansford is $90 a year."I'd rather do that (increase the sewer maintenance fee) than raise taxes," Council President Angela Krapf said.Councilman Mike Doerr agreed."We may have to do that," he said. "Infrastructure has to be taken care of."The next budget meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22, Nov. 5 and Nov. 19.