Catasauqua residents will see an increase in their municipal tax bill, following borough council's vote to approve a 2014 budget of $3,902,895.

With revenues expected to be $3,755,035, the shortfall will be made up with a 0.59-mill increase.

The budget was approved at a special end-of-year council meeting last Wednesday.

At the meeting, council passed a number of resolutions to set financial guidelines for the upcoming year.

The municipal tax rate was increased from 4.57 mills to 5.16 mills.

"The increase would amount to $86 annually for the average house," said borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder. The average is based on a house with an assessed value of $146,000.

The new borough budget estimates revenues at $3,755,035 with 61 percent of the budget coming from the local municipal tax.

The borough's biggest expense will be in the area of public safety, with a budget of $1,983,725 for the police department.

Streets and general government expenses are the next highest categories, with expenditures of a little over a half million dollars in each department.

The water and sewer systems were balanced out without any additional increase in residential rates.

The residential fee remains at $24 per house for the first 5,000 gallons.

Commercial rates are increasing, depending on the size of the water line.

Council approved a garbage collection fee of $324.

A provision passed by council gives residents 62 years of age and older a discount of $25. The discount is income-based. Seniors must apply for the discount by Feb. 28, 2014.

Council also retained the legal firm of Dimmich and Dinkelacker as tax collectors for delinquent accounts.

The fees for this service have not changed during the firm's tenure with the borough.

According to Solicitor Jeffery Dimmich, the measures voted on at this last meeting of the year must be affirmed by the new council scheduled to take over in January.

A detailed message about the tax increase and the budget, prepared by Goldfeder, is on the borough website.