Editor's note: Last week this story ran with incorrect information. A corrected version is running here. The Press regrets the errors.

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 increase for the borough manager, which was discussed in executive session. A salary increase for the tax collector was approved in February in compliance with state requirements.

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.

Council also discussed a line item under building maintenance and public in the budget. A large garage door at the fire department building is in need of repair but council has not received a formal request for funds to make the repair.

If the fire department makes a formal request, council will consider adding the repair to the budget in addition to the $5,000 annual donation the borough makes to the fire department.

An increase in insurance premiums was projected for its workers' compensation for volunteer firefighters. Borough officials indicated they may explore hiring a negotiator to arrive at a solution.