Coaldale residents will feel a pinch when they pay their property tax bills next year.

On Tuesday evening, Coaldale Borough Council adopted the 2023 budget, which includes a 0.71 mill increase.

Total millage will be 27.4 mills.

The slight spike was due to a number of factors, according to Councilwoman Claire Remington.

Blighted properties and demolition costs played a role in the jump, she said, as did increases on usual line items such as insurance.

The budget is balanced with approximately $1.53 million in projected revenue and expenditures.

Among the largest expenditures are for services including sewer and sanitation, police protection and road maintenance.

Council voted unanimously to adopt the budget. It is available for inspection at borough hall.

In an unrelated matter, residents likely haven’t heard the fire department’s alarm in a little while.

Councilman Jacob Adamitis said that the alarm, which is an air raid siren, is broken.

“We’re trying to figure out why. There are some parts we have to get and we are not sure if we can get them,” he explained. “It’s something with the relays so that’s why the alarm hasn’t been going off.”

Adamitis said the borough was alerted to the problem by the Schuylkill County Communications Center.