It appears more and more likely that Lehighton will be able to avert a municipal tax increase next year.

Borough Council continued its review of the 2015 spending plan at a brief special meeting on Tuesday.Borough Manager Nicole Beckett said that next year's budget remains on track with no tax increase.If council were to approve next year's budget with no tax increase, it would leave the tax rate in check at 7.5 mills.That means a homeowner with a home valued at $100,000, which would be assessed at $50,000, would again pay $375 to the borough next year in property taxes.Beckett said council meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday, at which time there will be a motion listed on meeting agenda to adopt the proposed 2015 budget.Final budget adoption is slated for Dec. 15, Beckett said.In December, council approved this year's spending plan with a 1-mill increase.There was no increase in taxes in 2013.In 2012, 2 mills of tax were added for the fire station construction project. That was done to improve security at borough hall; to add systems for employee accountability; and to allocate funds for the repaving of the pool parking lot.Also on Tuesday, council, on a 5-0 vote, agreed to allow free parking in the downtown from Thanksgiving through Jan. 3, 2015. Councilmen John Kreitz and Joe Flickinger were absent.Beckett said the borough allows free parking during that time period each year to encourage people to visit the downtown for the holiday season.