Bath Borough Council began working on the 2014 preliminary budget at its Oct. 23 workshop meeting.

Council projects there will be no tax increase for 2014.

At issue, however, was how much support taxpayers should give officials attending chamber of commerce functions.

Borough Manager Thomas Petrucci said he removed the miscellaneous account, which covers these expenses, from the budget.

Councilman Michael Reph expressed support for the move.

"I don't feel that it is right for the taxpayers to pay council members for 'lobster dinners,'" Reph said.

Council President Robert Fields countered by saying it's important to show up and support local functions. Both Nazareth and Bath chambers of commerce have contributed to the borough and a lack of a presence can adversely affect the borough's relationships with them.

"They support ours [functions]," Fields said.

Reph questioned Fields' travel expense account as shown in the budget. Council approved renaming the account "council president's expenses."

The budget also includes an undisclosed salary for the borough manager, supported by Councilwoman Kathryn Roberts. Fields made a motion to discuss the issue of an increase during executive session held later in the evening.

The budget also calls for an increase in salary for the tax collector. Petrucci noted council must take action to approve an increase.

"This is the time to discuss it [increase in salary]," Petrucci said. The matter was discussed during executive session.

The borough solicitor's cost was also discussed and council voted to maintain the fee of $25,000 for legal services.

No action was taken by council regarding the projected increase of $21,681.17 for contract services with Colonial Regional Police. The current police contract amounts to $405,983.38. The projected increase covers the services of an extra officer for public safety. Council and police officials will meet before the annual budget meeting to discuss details further.

Under the building maintenance and public works line item, a $6,000 request was proposed to repair a large garage door at the borough's fire department building. Borough officials may grant the request and remove from the budget its annual $2,500 donation to the fire department.

An increase in insurance premiums was projected for its workers' compensation for volunteer firefighters. According to Petrucci, the insurance company has a "cancer wall" against coverage for firefighters. The borough indicated it may explore hiring a negotiator to arrive at a solution.