Lehighton residents are likely to see a mild increase in their municipal tax rate next year.

On a 6-0 vote, borough council on Monday advanced the 2022 proposed budget with a half-mill increase. Councilman Joe Flickinger was absent.

After the meeting, borough Manager Nicole Beckett attributed the small increase in taxes to “the rising costs of everything.”

If council were to adopt next year’s budget with a half-mill increase, it would raise the millage rate from 9.5 to 10 mills.

That would mean a home assessed at $50,000 would pay slightly more in their municipal tax rates next year.

Council is slated to adopt the budget at its next meeting at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20.

In December 2021, council adopted this year’s $18,567,000 budget with no tax increase.

A homeowner with a home assessed at $50,000 paid $475 to the borough this year in taxes.

At that time, Beckett explained that council was able to balance the general fund without a tax increase this year.