Lehighton continues to gain steam on a spending plan that calls for no municipal tax increase next year.

Borough council on a unanimous measure Monday agreed to adopt the proposed 2015 budget with no tax increase.Councilman Darryl Arner praised borough Manager Nicole Beckett for her work on the budget, as well as borough council for its support of the budget.If council were to approve next year's budget with no tax increase, it would leave the tax rate in check at 7.5 mills.That means a homeowner with a home valued at $100,000, which would be assessed at $50,000, would again pay $375 to the borough next year in property taxes.Final budget adoption is slated for Dec. 15, Beckett said.In December, council approved this year's spending plan with a 1-mill increase.There was no increase in taxes in 2013.In 2012, 2 mills of tax were added for the fire station construction project. That was done to improve security at borough hall; to add systems for employee accountability; and to allocate funds for the repaving of the pool parking lot.Icy patch of roadAlso on Monday, Councilman Scott Rehrig said a patchy ice of road has formed at the Zion Church at Second and Iron streets.Rehrig said water is running into the street and freezing.He believes the water is coming from the elevator that was previously installed in the church."I know when they put the elevator in last year, they had a problem with water going into the street," Rehrig said.It is believed the water issue was pre-existing before the installation of the elevator.In other business, council:• Approved a 90-day waiver request for the Lehighton Area School District stadium project.• Tabled the police civil service commission corporal exam results. Borough Investigator Scott Prebosnyak is being considered for the corporal position.• Approved the Allegheny Electric Services Agreement.• Adopted a resolution to eliminate debt from the capital project fund for the annex renovation project.• Approved a change order in the amount of $17,506 for the light and power building addition project for additional paving at the facility.• Approved the following transfers: $250,000 from the light and power fund to the general fund as the final budgetary transfer; $40,000 from the general fund to the fire apparatus fund; $160,000 from the general fund to the fire station construction fund.• Agreed that during instances of inclement weather, to have Beckett notify the borough water authority and light department to assist the borough with snow removal when needed.• Tabled discussion on the proposed Carbon County Council of Governments Agreements.• Agreed to advertise the 2015 Tax Levy Ordinance.• Preapproved awards for the Christmas Light Competition for judging Dec. 21.