Coplay residents will be paying more in taxes in 2013, according to a preliminary budget read at council's Nov. 13 meeting.

"We're going to have to make an adjustment. We anticipate coming in at roughly 3.71 mills to make it revenue neutral," said Councilman Joseph Groller.

The new rate would result in an average tax increase per homeowner of $31, he said.

Coplay's tax rate remained at 12.2 mills for 2010, 2011 and 2012, Groller said.

Lehigh County reassessment resulted in the average assessment jumping from just under $40,000 to about $140,000, said Groller.

"Take that times the new rate and I would say we would probably have an adjustment for the average homeowner of somewhere around $31," Groller said.

A total of 3.2 mills, or just over 86 percent of the $1.89 million budget, is designated for the general fund.

This amount includes $132,973 in expenditures for administration, $32,600 in expenditures for tax collection, $66,800 for borough buildings, $28,332 for the library, $255,567 for the streets department, $88,000 for recreation and $350,700 for miscellaneous such as insurance and payroll taxes.

The $350,700 miscellaneous figure includes a $75,000 expenditure for the capital projects loan.

The police department is budgeted to cost $375,851 and $6,730 is budgeted for health.

Real estate taxes are estimated to bring in $618,040 and earned income tax is predicted to generate $275,000.

The rest of the $1,229,240 in the budget's revenue comes from items such as building permits, traffic fines, pool receipts and revenue from other taxes such as realty transfer and per capita.

Another 0.38 mills, or just over 10 percent of the budget, generates approximately $73,400 for emergency management. Another $3,600 in revenue comes from the rent of the Commitment to Family and Community building and $75 comes from bank interest.

Emergency service expenditures include $12,200 for workers' compensation insurance, $9,000 for building maintenance, $8,250 for hydrant rental, $6,000 for auto insurance and $4,700 in utilities, among others.

The final 3.5 percent, or 0.13 mills, goes to pay off the borough's loan account, formerly known as the "sinking fund."

The millage will generate $25,500 which will be used to pay the principal of $25,500. A $2,000 balance forward and $30 in bank interest will cover the interest payment of $630, leaving $1,400 left over.

Council will vote on adopting the budget at a special meeting Dec. 17.