Jim Thorpe Borough Council has passed the 2013 final budget. JT Borough Council has announced that there will be no tax increase for 2013.

The budget was tentatively passed in November and the final budget has now been approved.The taxes are:Real Estate Tax- 6.4 mills equals $97,416 is one millFire Tax- .5 mill equals $48,708 is a millOccupational Tax- .0055 %Per Capita Tax- $5LST Tax- $25.00 ($5 share with school district)Earned Income Tax- 1% (1/2 shared with school district)Realty Transfer Tax- 1%The following has been adopted for the 2013 final budget:- Tax Levy Ordinance- Decrease in the penalty on utilities from 20% to 15%.- General Fund Budget- Total receipts $1,757,126, Total expenses $1,757,126.- The ordinance to decrease the sewer rates. The sewer rates will be calculated by water usage based on the first 1,000 gallons at the cost of $21.69, same as water for the residents. For commercial and businesses it will go on meter size and connection. There will be a decrease in the sewer rates from the current charge of $28.45 for the first 1,000 gallons to $21.69.- Sewer Budget- Total receipts $1,096,117, Total expenses $1,018,300, Fund balance $77,817.- Water Budget- Total receipts $1,163,009, Total expenses $1,154,251, Fund balance $8,758. The first 1,000 gallons used per month will cost $21.69 for residents. There will be no increase for water rates.- Sanitation Budget- Total receipts $623,601, Total expenses $588,450, Fund balance $35,151. There will be no increase for sanitation rates.- Liquid Fuels Budget- Total receipts $99,500, Total expenses $97,926, Fund balance $1,574.- Memorial Hall Fund Budget- Total receipts $176,216, Total expenses $174,782, Fund balance $1,434.In other news Council approved,- The advertising of the ordinance for River Road- The resolution for Penn DOT sidewalks and street lights for the new bridge.- The revised deed for the landfillIn other news,The Police Services Contract was discussed.Mayor Michael Sofranko stated that residents have expressed concerns over the cost to the Borough for extra police services for special events in town.The Police Services Contract deals with the request of police services above and beyond regular patrols for special events. With the contract, Council may or may not ask the person/s requesting the extra police services to pay a fee and adjust the fee accordingly."We welcome these events. We are just trying to defray some of the extra cost to the residents," stated Mayor Sofranko.He added that the contract has also been implemented as a way for council to keep track of the events and cost. The contract also deals with liability insurance.