One year ago during budget discussions, Jim Thorpe Borough Council predicted that a 1-mill property tax increase for 2016 might keep the governing body from having to levy additional increases in subsequent years.

As far as the 2017 spending plan is concerned, it was right.Council unanimously passed a $2.64 million general operating budget Thursday night that will keep the real estate tax steady at 9.4 mills.Each mill generates $86,734 for the borough.Jim Thorpe also collects a half-mill fire tax, 0.0055-mill occupational tax, $5 per capita tax, $52 local services tax and a 1 percent earned income and realty transfer tax.Things won’t be as rosy for Jim Thorpe sewer customers, who will see a 10 percent hike in rates.“The increase is to help cover upgrades at the plant,” council President Greg Strubinger said.Water and garbage rates will remain the same as in 2016.The sewer rate is calculated on the water usage and every 1,000 gallons costs $21.69.As for the water rate, the first 1,000 gallons used per month cost $27.69.Updating the 50-year-old plant will cost almost $10 million including a $6.1 million loan through Rural Development’s water and environmental program.“Construction for that project is also why the sewer operating budget is $6.99 million for 2017,” Councilman Curtis Jackson said.The remaining 2017 budgets are general fund capital reserve, $81,784; liquid fuels, $254,866; Memorial Hall operating fund, $44,075; sanitation operating fund, $830,233; sanitation capital reserve fund, $863,133; sewer capital reserve fund, $452,487; water operating fund, $$1.36 million; and water capital reserve fund, $301,690.In other matters, Thorpe got a bit of good financial news on Thursday as Mayor Mike Sofranko announced that Andy Muller, owner of Reading and Northern Railroad, donated $750 for the lettering of a new police car in the borough.“We’re very thankful for Andy’s generosity and hope to continue that relationship,” Sofranko said.