Nesquehoning residents will see a slight increase in their 2014 borough taxes.

On Wednesday, borough council formally adopted its 2014 budget, which includes a half-mill increase, bringing the borough's millage to 15.5.That means that a $100,000 home assessed at $50,000 will see an increase in real estate taxes of $25 next year.Councilman David Hawk said the formal budget's bottom line is the same as the tentative budget council passed in November, but included a few minor line item revisions in police, highway and crossing guard salaries to offset an increase in workman's compensation insurance.The total budget is $1,657,389.22."We're going to have to watch spending," Hawk told council, "and try and stick to it as best we can. "We'll again be able to get a little farther out of debt with what we have in there."In other matters, council discussed or acted on the following items:• Adopted the wind energy facility ordinance; oil and gas development ordinance and an amendment to the borough's zoning ordinance on wind energy facilities and wind turbines.• Council President Frank Jacobs announced that the Park Avenue drainage project is on hold until the spring. Work began along Park Avenue in the fall.• Fire Chief John McArdle asked that the solicitor, Robert Yurchak, be authorized to pursue extraordinary expenses that were incurred as a result of a motor vehicle accident on Catawissa Street earlier this year because the allotted time for the other party to respond has passed.• McArdle also reminded the public that with the colder weather here, it is very important to maintain the home heating systems and have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on each floor.• Yurchak said that the borough received a response from the county regarding the $4 per ton tipping fees it currently charges municipalities for trash. Jacobs noted that the county plans to continue to collect the fee through the end of the year and then once all figures are in, return the fees to the municipalities. The reason is because the county closed its solid waste department and the recycling program in 2013.• Outgoing Nesquehoning Mayor Tony Walck said that he was stepping aside from scheduling crime watch and junior recreation meetings to allow the incoming mayor, Sam Kitchko, to take charge.He thanked all crime watch members for their commitment and service to the borough; all boys and girls who participated in the junior recreation program and Pam Zlock for acting as a coordinator in the junior recreation program.• Following a number of complaints regarding the handling of snow in the borough, councilman Mark Stromelo said that council should tell the police to enforce ordinances regarding snow. This means that anyone who has not cleaned their sidewalk within 24 hours after a storm, has not moved their cars from borough roads to plows can properly clean the streets or has thrown snow back into the streets, can be fined."It's time to stop turning our heads and doing as we say," he said.