Allen Township homeowners can rest easy. Their township taxes will not increase next year.

The board of supervisors introduced the 2014 budget at the Nov. 14 meeting.

The proposed spending plan, set for adoption in December, calls for real estate taxes to remain at five mills.

In addition to real estate taxes, the major receipts making up the $1,289,895 budget come from earned income tax revenues.

Major expenditures include road construction and maintenance, along with wages and health care coverage.

J.P. Mascaro & Sons, which presently is the township's private collector of garbage and recyclables, will be replaced. Township supervisors awarded a new refuse contract to Advanced Disposal Services of the Lehigh Valley, which was the low bidder at $1,499,034. The five-year contract begins April 2014.

In other business, the supervisors set garbage fees from January to December 2014. Property owners and renters are to pay their bills directly to First National Bank of Palmerton by checks made payable to Allen Township.

Those who pay by Jan. 31 will receive a $10 discount. The net amount of $300 is payable during the month of February.

Those who are late paying their bills will be assessed a $25 collection fee.

Seniors who pay during the January discount period will receive a $15 discount.

In order to receive the senior discount, a resident must turn 65 by Jan. 31.