Walnutport Borough residents will face a small tax increase for the 2017 revenue year.

Councilwoman and Finance Committee Chair, Nancy Treskot, told the board of the idea of increasing the town’s millage from 18.25 to 18.75.“Once we look at which one we want we then have to create an ordinance. Then make it known to the public. Then vote on a budget by December. It has to be approved by Dec. 31,” she said.“Seems like we agreed with the figures and agreed to the 18.75 during the committee meeting,” said council President William Turk.“It’ll be a small increase but it’ll be a safety. We don’t want to be under budget and be in a tough spot at the end of the year.”The borough will see construction on the Route 873 bridge in the early spring.Earlier in November the District 50 Engineers firm based in Harrisburg were on location inspecting a newly formed hole in the middle of the two-lane bridge between Walnutport and Slatington boroughs.According to grant coordinator and firefighter Michael Wentz, the engineering firm put a steel plate over the hole for a quick patch but plans to bid the job out for construction in the spring.Discussion of whether traffic across the bridge should be stopped or turned into one lane then followed the announcement.“Doing one lane at a time will be an eight-month project. It makes no sense. We should just have them shut it down and it will take four months,” said borough engineer Jason Newhard.“What about the school buses?” Turk asked.Wentz told the board the engineers had made no concrete plans and had only called the fire department, “to ask one question.”The reconstruction and repair of Lock 24 will be complete within the month.The construction crew will put finishing touches on the retaining walls and clean up the area of debris before the job will be complete, Newhard said.