Bath Borough Council passed the 2014 budget at its Dec. 2 meeting.

The $1,705,786 budget keeps the real estate tax rate at 13.5 mills.

Voting in favor of the budget were council members Robert Fields, Mark Saginario, Carol Bear-Heckman, Jennifer George, John Kearns and Kathryn Roberts. Councilman Michael Reph was opposed.

After the meeting, Reph told The Press he voted against the budget because of a social meals line item allocated to pay for council member dinners.

"I feel that the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for these meals," Reph said.

The borough saved $1,785.20 after negotiations with Colonial Regional Police. Negotiations also netted an extra police officer for the borough.

Council members thanked both Mayor Donald Wunderler and Kearns for their years of service to the borough.

In January, Fiorela Mirabito-Reginelli will be sworn in as mayor and Councilwoman-elect Michele Ehrgott will take the seat to be vacated by Kearns.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of former Councilman Joseph Linsenmann, who died Nov. 28. He had been appointed Dec. 16, 2010 to fill the unexpired term of Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito.