Though it all evens out in the end, Coplay Borough's proposed 2014 budget is significantly different from its 2013 spending plan.

"The millage will stay at 3.71 as it was in 2013," said Councilman Joseph Groller, presenting the proposed preliminary $1.9 million budget at the Nov. 12 meeting.

Although the total millage is the same as in 2013, the proposed budget actually represents an increase in millage for the general fund, which rose from 3.2 mills in 2013 to a proposed 3.3 mills in 2014.

However, the overall tax rate breaks even because the borough paid off a loan account over the summer. The 1.3 mills, or approximately $26,000, earmarked for those loan payments is rolled into the general fund for 2014.

Substantial savings in line items for the swimming pool concession stand and allotment for the Coplay Public Library also represent significant changes.

The proposed 2014 budget includes no funding for the Coplay library, compared to $28,332 in 2013.

The budget for recreation dropped from $82,500 in 2013 to a proposed $65,800 for 2014, a difference of $16,700.

"Since we did eliminate the [swimming pool] concession stand, we had reduced wages," Groller said. "We eliminated the food and soda, we have less people and water and sewage costs were down."

Most of the difference came from salaries, specifically pool and pavilion cleaner wages, which dropped from $29,000 in 2013 to $15,400 in the proposed 2014 budget.

The line item for food and soda dropped from $10,000 in 2013 to 0 for 2014. Likewise, the $1,000 expense for propane in 2013 was eliminated for 2014.

The savings in the two departments brings the total savings to $45,032.

Increased costs include the proposed 2014 streets budget, which rose by $14,314 over the figures budgeted in 2013.

"We did add something in there which we had talked about [at the Nov. 5 workshop meeting] and this was curb and sidewalk installation at the fire department," said Groller.

The borough has budgeted $10,000 for that work, made necessary by a joint paving project with Whitehall Township along Ruch and Cherry streets.

The other $4,314 comes from smaller increases on line items such as salaries, vehicle maintenance, gasoline and oil.

Insurance costs also increased dramatically, from $367,700 in 2013 to $399,626 in the proposed 2014 budget. The biggest line item increase is for workers' compensation which rises from $30,000 to $46,000. Several other line items increase by a few hundred dollars each.

Employee health insurance costs are projected to decrease, however, from $167,000 in 2013 to $146,916 proposed for 2014.

Costs for the police department are rising from $375,851 in 2013 to $391,385 in the proposed 2014 budget. Most of the increases are connected to salaries, supplies, fuel and vehicles.

The costs for administration are rising by $4,469, according to the proposed budget. The main difference comes from a $4,200 line item for copier and maintenance, which represents an increase of $3,200 over 2013. The rest of the increase comes from increased salaries for borough staff.

The costs for tax collection decrease by $500 while budgeted costs for borough buildings increases by $5,000.

The bulk of the increase comes from a budgeted amount of $4,500 for library maintenance, which jumps by $3,000 over what was budgeted for 2013. The remaining $2,000 comes from smaller increases spread out over several line items including supplies and fuel.

The revenue side starts out with good news.

"We anticipate an opening balance of $121,000," said Groller. The opening balance for 2013 was $115,000.

Tax revenues are budgeted to increase by $19,730, from $1,230,900 to $1,250,630.

Real estate tax revenue is estimated to be $632,130, up from $612,700 budgeted in 2013.

"This is based on real estate assessment which is estimated at this point," said Groller. "We still don't have the concrete figures from the county."

The emergency services receipts are budgeted to increase $7,000 from $94,775 in 2013 to $101,775 in 2014, while expenses increase by less than half that, or $2,800. The main reason for the difference is a beginning balance of $7000, which the borough did not have this year, according to the 2013 budget.

The borough got rid of an emergency management vehicle in 2013, impacting the budget.

"We eliminated some things there [such as] gas and oil for the automobile that we had, bringing us down [by] $1,700," said Groller

The sanitation budget is holding steady, with a slight decrease in receipts from $375,850 in 2013 to $$370,850 in 2014 and a corresponding decrease in expenses from $372,326 in 2013 to $369,923 for 2014. The 2013 budget shows an ending balance of $3,524 compared to the ending balance for 2014, which is projected to be only $927.

"We're keeping sanitation expenses in line," said Groller. "So there will not be an increase in our garbage tax."

Council will hold a special meeting 7 p.m. Dec. 16 in council chambers, 98 S. Fourth St., to vote on the final budget.