Lansford Borough Council plans to raise taxes in 2017.

Council approved a proposed budget at a special meeting Wednesday night, setting the stage for final adoption at the regular meeting next week.The proposed 2017 spending plan includes a 1-mill tax increase - bringing the property tax rate to 34.53 mills.The board voted 4-1 with Martin Ditsky voting against. Councilmen Colin Jones and Matt Walsh were absent.The majority of the tax levy goes toward the borough's general fund, but some is also earmarked for debt service, parks, fire service, streetlights and the borough's pension obligations.Council has actually proposed spending less in 2017 than it did last year. Their general fund budget includes $1,465,595 in expenses, roughly $39,000 less than the 2016 budget.But the borough's tax base has shrunk over the past 12 months. Council members said that several property owners got their tax assessment reduced this year. The total assessed value of the town went down by about 1 percent. If the borough kept the same tax rate, they would get less revenue for it."People sit in the meetings and say 'we have the highest millage around here,' " Councilwoman Rose Mary Cannon said. "It's true, but our mill brings in nil compared to other towns."On top of that, the budget doesn't take into account delinquent taxpayers.Councilman John Turcmanovich asked if there was a way for them to better collect that money."We're looking at over $100,000, close to $200,000 of uncollectable. Is there a way that we can be more aggressive?" Turcmanovich asked.Borough secretary Jill Seigendall said that a budget with no tax increase would put the borough more than $10,000 in the red for the year.