Palmerton residents will see a near 17% uptick in their municipal tax rates next year.

By a unanimous vote, borough council on Thursday adopted the 2025 budget that sets the 2025 tax rate at 17.47 mills.

Next year’s spending plan will result in a 2.5 mill increase, which will raise the borough’s millage rate from 14.97 mills to 17.47 mills.

Before the vote, resident Raberta Hans noted that such an increase is a lot for the public to absorb.

Hans asked if council could outline what specifically has gone up to warrant such a climb.

Borough Manager Autumn Canfield said the borough is feeling the effects of cost increases everywhere.

Canfield cited maintenance on buildings and lots, along with an increase in electric rates.

Additionally, she said the borough is looking at a reduction of revenue, as it has eliminated transfers from the water and trash fund to the general fund.

“Traditionally there were transfers from water and trash into the general fund,” Canfield said. “With rising costs across the board, we have eliminated those transfers.”

Last month, Canfield noted that the borough’s garbage rates will increase significantly next year.

Earlier last month, council awarded a three-year contract to Whitetail Disposal Inc. in the amount of $2,388,759.

Currently, the borough charges $72 a quarter. The new rate will be $119 a quarter.

The contract is for trash pickup and recyclables.

The borough is in a five-year contract with its current waste hauler, Waste Management, for trash disposal and recycling that will end this year. The contract is set to expire in December.

Canfield added that the borough is looking at a few larger costs next year.

She said those include implementing a rental program; completion of a traffic signal project at Third Street and Delaware Avenue; increased maintenance on its buildings; training and equipment for the police department; and an anticipated increase in electric costs.

Canfield said some smaller costs include continuing with sewer line projects; safety equipment in water and sewer; the expense of the last of the borough’s American Rescue Plan Act funds; and equipment purchases from out of liquid fuels.

Last December, council unanimously adopted this year’s budget with a 1.2-mill increase to be used to establish a fire fund.

In addition, a resolution for the borough’s water rate resulted in a 25% increase across the board for residential meters.