Tamaqua residents will see a slight tax increase in 2019. Council approved the advertisement of a tentative budget which includes a 0.5 mill increase, which Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt said averages about to about $13 per household and bring an additional $35,000 into the borough coffers. Councilman Ron Bowman said that although no one wants to raise taxes, the increase would “relieve some of the pain, and we’ll continue to go at it slowly, rather than a slap in the face.”

Council President David Mace agreed with Bowman, citing some adjustments the borough had made from the preliminary budget presented earlier this month.

“It’s not going to solve all the problems, but it will solve some,” he said.

The tax rate of 22.25 mills includes a 20.75 mill for general purposes, 1 mill for the building and equipment fund, and 0.50 mill for the Wabash Capital Improvement Fund.

The borough is still facing a $147,500 deficit in the general fund, despite the increase. Steigerwalt said that most of the difference is due to general inflation, “cost of living” type increases in expenses. One item that was struck from the original budget was a provision for an additional full-time police officer.

Some other big-ticket items are an increase in the street repair and maintenance from $20,000 to $200,000 for paving a section of Owl Creek Road. Later in the meeting, Steigerwalt said that the bid packages he’s preparing for the street materials will include an additional 3,000 tons of super­pave for the proposed Owl Creek Road project.

Rush Township sewer charges will increase from $212,900 to $298,600. This fee will increase due to proposed capital improvements to the wastewater treatment plant.

The budget will be finalized and voted on next month.