Jim Thorpe Borough property owners will face a 1.2-mill real estate tax increase in 2023 as the municipality looks to get back on track with a revenue plan to support its proposed major building projects.

Council approved the 2023 budget, which calls for $3,298,073 of expenditures, Thursday night.

Based on the borough’s original schedule to help establish funding for major renovations to Memorial Hall, which will be the future home to its police department and office staff, and construction of a new public works garage had council raising property taxes by several mills in 2022. Council, however, opted to keep taxes level for this year and bypass the planned increase.

“To get back on track, council would have had to raise taxes by 2.4 mills in 2023, but it opted not to go that route at this time and chose to just do half of that, which is the 1.2 mills,” Borough Manager Maureen Sterner said.

In addition to the building projects, the additional revenue will go toward increasing borough staff including the hiring of an additional police officer and another administrative assistant.

“We never want to raise taxes,” borough President Greg Strubinger said, “but we needed some personnel including another police officer. It’s always challenging for the police to get shifts covered.”

With tourism numbers seemingly rising each year, borough officials said, more manpower is definitely more than just a wishlist item.

“And we don’t always get much help in funding these services,” Strubinger said. “We get a Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau grant to help cover the cost of law enforcement, fire and ambulance downtown during the Fall Foliage Festival, but other than that it really falls on the municipality.”

Water rates will also be increasing 5% in the borough for 2023.

“That is due to some increases in general expenses and we are hiring an additional licensed water plant operator,” Sterner said.

The borough has been down one licensed operator at the plant after Vince Yaich left to take on the role of public services manager for the municipality seven years ago.

Borough sewer and garbage rates, Sterner said, will remain the same in 2023.

Strubinger said an incremental water rate increase is called for as part of a PENNVEST loan the municipality previously took out for improvements to its water system.

“As part of that loan, they tell you that you have to increase water rates over time to make sure you are able to pay off that debt,” Strubinger said. “There were also some capital improvements that need done so we all felt the increase was warranted to make sure our water system is taken care of.”