Nesquehoning residents will see a slightly higher borough tax bill in 2021.

During Wednesday’s borough council meeting, council adopted its preliminary budget, which calls for a 0.75-mill increase.

That means that a $100,000 home assessed at $50,000 will pay around $37.50 more in real estate taxes than in 2020.

The breakdown for the $1,945,630.75 spending plan calls for 16.95 mills going to the general fund, 1.95 mills going to fire protection and 0.4 mills going to recreation.

Council President David Hawk said the reason for the increase in millage is “primarily a decrease in tax millage value, contractual increases in employee salaries, increases in employee benefit costs such as insurance, and matching public safety grant obligations in the General Fund.

“We also want to continue street improvements before streets begin deteriorating to the point of requiring total reconstruction,” he said.

Hawk also noted that the borough is rebalancing the fire truck fund to allow income to meet increasing expenses; and rebalancing the recreation fund to cover matching grant obligations for Johnson Park improvements, and some modest recreation improvements such as getting electrical service in the New Columbus Park and continuing to beautify the newly acquired Station Park.

The tentative budget will now be reviewed by the budget committee before final adoption at council’s December meeting.

In related budget matters, the sewer and sanitation bills will remain the same for 2021, but effective Jan. 1, the base rate for water will increase to $75 for 7,000 gallons of water.

The Nesquehoning Borough Authority said consumption over the 7,000 gallons will be $5.72 per 1,000 gallons of water.