Palmerton Borough Council voted 6-0 Thursday to advertise the 2024 budget with a 1.2-mill increase, which would be used to establish a fire fund.

If approved, the millage rate would go from 13.77 to 14.97 mills.

Also, a resolution for the borough’s water rate has a 25% increase across the board for residential meters.

The proposed water rate increase drew the ire of resident Joe Federanich.

“How can you possibly justify a 25% rate increase,” Federanich asked.

Federanich asked for clarification “as to such a drastic increase.”

Borough Manager Autumn Canfield said it’s been over a decade since water rates increased in the borough.

“We have not raised our water rates since 2011,” Canfield said.

Canfield said the 25% increase for residential meters would come out to just over a $3 increase per month on the base usage of the smallest water meter.

She added that over 80% of residences in the borough have the smallest meter.

Council President Terry Costenbader said there are chemicals that treat the water, as well as other costs that have to be accounted for.

Councilman William Gallagher added, “We’re only talking $3 a month.”

Federanich didn’t let the issue rest.

“I think we need a little clarification,” Federanich said. “Twenty-five percent is an outrageous amount.”

Councilman Kris Hoffner told Federanich that if the borough had not bought the water company, the water rates would likely be much higher.

“We’re very fortunate as a borough that we had the opportunity to buy that,” said Hoffner, who noted that the New Jersey Zinc Company had owned the former Palmer Water Company and had declared bankruptcy.

The borough in 2003 bought the Palmer Water Company.

Gallagher told Federanich the borough’s Water Authority meets on the first Thursday of the month if he’d like to attend and ask questions.

Federanich said he believes the people of the town deserve an answer.

“There’s a lot of expenses (incurred) here that you don’t see,” Gallagher said.

Resident Raberta Hans asked what percentage of the budget is geared toward maintenance.

“What is the borough doing to maintain our properties,” Hans asked. “What is the borough’s maintenance plan?”

“We have numerous projects planned for next year,” Canfield said.

She said some items include repair work to borough buildings; improvements at the signals for Third and Delaware; replacing weapons that have reached end of life for the police; conversion of lights to LED; sewer lining; work in alleys; and purchase of police cars.

Council meets at 7 p.m. Dec. 21, and is expected to grant final adoption of the 2024 budget.