Slatington Borough Council held a special meeting this week to adopt the 2025 budget with a 1-mill tax increase.

The budget sets the tax at 7.875 mills, with the per capita tax at $5, and reenacting the 1% wage tax, the borough local service tax at $52, a 1% realty transfer tax and setting the fire fund tax rate at 0.725 (0.1 mil increase).

The budget passed, with councilmen Zacharia Halkias and William Schippers voting no.

Slatington resident Andreas Hassold was at the meeting to ask, “Why there was a tax increase of 1 mil?”

President David Schnaars said, “It is a necessity to be able to operate the borough. Electricity, health insurance and wages have gone up to name a few. We have hired a grant writer to get whatever grants he can for any improvement of our borough.”

Schaars said the new borough manager Roy Hambrecht has gone around to each street of the borough and made a list of the most needed in order.

“All of these things are in the budget for 2025 along with a new full-time police officer and borough employee,” Schnaars said. “We were advised to keep our general fund healthy.”

Mayor Jeralyn Schoch said, “The idea for the roads is that we will be able to actually pave a few roads each year until they are all done.”