Macungie Borough Council voted to adopt a $2.69 million budget Dec. 7 with a .5 mill real estate tax increase.

The vote was unanimous from all board members present; David Boyko was absent.

The impact of the increase on citizens can be viewed on the borough’s website at www.macungie.pa.us.

The increase amounts to a $227,734 revenue for the borough, necessary to continue providing services and to maintain the borough’s aging infrastructure.

A property valued at $100,000 will see a tax bill increase of $50; a property valued at $150,000, a $75 increase; $200,000, a $100 increase and $225,000, a $112.50 increase.

The sewer fund maintains the current sewer rates, although the Lehigh County Authority’s rates are increasing. Council passed a requisite resolution to amend the sewer surcharge rate in keeping with LCA’s rates as law requires. It is not an increase in borough rates.

Though the water rate remains the same the flow rate has increased to $4.25 per 1,000 gallons.

The Water Authority is taking on new projects next year including upgrading the Race Street water line; repairs to the Hillcrest water storage tank; a new well pump; covering the exposed water main at Mountain Creek and Walnut Street and removing a broken valve and purchasing electronic meters to be installed over several years.

According to a summary of the budget provided at the meeting, this “is needed to cover the debt service on the capital projects and maintain the aging infrastructure.”

Though the Teamsters contract, listed on the council’s agenda for approval, was tabled for further revisions, it was agreed with the Teamsters Union for 2016 the borough will outsource several jobs to save money, rather than hire a fifth employee. These jobs will include janitorial services at Macungie Borough Hall and the Macungie Institute, leaf collection, and street sweeping services (the latter having already been arranged this year). This measure is saving the borough approximately $40,000.

Included in the budget is $444,770 in grant funding, $432,000 of which is in Transportation Assistance Program funding from the Lehigh Valley Transportation Study. This will fund curb extensions and crosswalks on Main Street. A sum of $2,500 comes from Air Products for operating expenses at the Macungie Institute.

General Fund expenditures include funds to purchase a new police car and wages to hire a part-time public works employee to shovel snow. Also included are funds to repave parts of Hickory Street and Miller Street and to install decorative lighting on Lehigh Street from the park entrance to the bridge. The Town Beautification Committee is buying the lights themselves and the borough is installing them. Macungie Memorial Park is picking up the electric bill.

Macungie is budgeting $23,700 in each budget for the next three years to fund renovations to the police department and the equivalent of half a police car’s cost each year.

Also discussed were renovations to Brookfield Park to upgrade the playground equipment. Attention was drawn to the deteriorating conditions in the park earlier this year and a group of residents met in a workshop to discuss what action can be taken. The borough engineer is going to create a sketch plan and cost estimate for the park’s renovations based on the workshop’s suggestions. A DCNR grant is available with 50/50 matching from the borough and inclusion of in-kind services.

In layman’s terms this means the borough buys a swing set and residents from the borough put it together, being paid the hourly wage normally associated with the job. Borough Manager Chris Boehm said it is important to generate public interest in this project and Roseann Schleicher will be knocking on doors to raise awareness.

The borough is requesting a grant to cover the costs of decorative lighting and enhancements for Main Street from Race Street to Pine Street which will run up a bill of $450,100. The grant will also help defray the $92,188 to build a traffic median on Main Street with lighting on it. The borough only has to pay legal and engineering costs associated with the projects. The deadline for the grant is Jan. 8, 2016.

The resolution for police contributions was approved for a rate of 3 percent of annual wage.

Kyle Bernhard, a current police officer, was approved for moving into a 30-hour position with benefits. The move will be effective Dec. 8.

There are now two vacancies on the Borough Water Authority and residents are encouraged to submit letters of interest to the borough.