During a brief special meeting Dec. 20, Coplay Borough Council voted to approve the 2022 budget, which includes an increase in property taxes.

After the meeting, council President Louis Bodish said the hike represents a $70 annual increase for the average household. The tax hike was necessary because of increases in overall expenses, he said.

The garbage fee will increase $20 to $370 per year.

The library tax is unchanged.

The 2022 budget can be viewed at coplayborough.org. Residents can also call the borough office at 610-262-6088 and request a copy.

After the meeting, Mayor-elect Stephen Burker said 2021 was a difficult year financially for the borough, adding the tax hike was anticipated.

Council is looking at renovation costs for the municipal building, 98 S. Fourth St., that could include potential roof repair and furnace costs.

At an earlier meeting, Janet Eisenhauer, finance committee chair, noted she expected Coplay property taxes to rise for at least the next couple of years.

The borough utilized grant dollars to purchase playground equipment for Saylor Park. There are several hundred thousand dollars coming to the borough from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It is anticipated these dollars will assist council with completing projects and possible street repairs in the borough.

The next meeting of Coplay Borough Council is 6 p.m. Jan. 3, 2022, followed by a workshop meeting 7 p.m.

The 6 p.m. meeting is the borough’s reorganization meeting. Both of the meetings are in- person only and are held at the municipal building. It is anticipated Burker will administer the oath of office to the newly re-elected council members.