Residents of the borough of Saxonburg can enjoy their new year without a tax increase.

Mary Papik, borough manager, said council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a 2023 budget that boasts decreased expenses.

The nearly $804,000 final budget is down $95,000 from the current budget of $899,000.

Papik said the total expenditures are less this year because no further American Rescue Plan Act funds are expected to arrive at the borough, so no American Rescue-related expenditures were planned.

This year, the borough used $150,000 in American Rescue funds to bump up the budget’s general fund and for other uses.

Included in the new budget is the parks and recreation fund, which is predicting expenses of about $45,000, Papik said.

That fund lists revenues for next year at about $54,000, thanks to the long-term lease the borough signed this year with a fitness company to open a gym in the 6,000 square-foot Cooper Hall behind the Saxonburg Museum.

Previously, the borough rented Cooper Hall to those holding events and occasions, and paid the utilities.

The fitness company now pays the utilities on Cooper Hall.

“We lost $6,000 worth of bills (through the long-term lease),” Papik said.

As usual, the 2023 budget’s largest line item is the borough’s police department, at $250,250 in expenses for 2023.

During the 2022 budget discussions at this time last year, the council decided to exclude an expenditure of about $70,000 to replace deteriorating wood under the windows at the borough building.

The project was to be included in the 2023 budget, but Papik said that expense is not listed in the new budget.

She said the wood has not been repaired or replaced.

Saxonburg’s millage rate is 20.66 mills.

The last tax increase was in 2013.