Homeowners in the Borough of Northampton have received an early holiday present.

The administration, at the Nov. 17 council meeting, announced real estate taxes for 2017 will not be raised - a relief after property taxes went up one mill in 2016.

Borough Manager Leroy Brobst prepared his first proposed budget for council. He succeeds longtime borough Manager Gene Zarayko, who retired in May and died Oct. 25. Much like Zarayko, who cited his budget messages as “no frills,” Brobst also presented an austere spending plan.

The present 10-mill real estate levy will not be changed, a relief to borough lawmakers, such as Councilman Ed Pany. A conservative, Pany later said, “You know what my vote would have been,” a reference to casting a no vote if property taxes would be raised.

The working budget was not released to the media since the administration continues to work on the plan.

Brobst said there will be changes made to the proposed budget, which will go before council Dec. 1 for adoption.

“For 2017, the total general fund budget expenditures are projected at $6,057,107. This represents an increase of $62,312, or 1.04 percent. It will not be necessary to increase taxes. I anticipate that the 2016 closing balance will be $596,020, an increase of $340,442 over the closing balance of 2015,” Brobst said.

He mentioned it is the first time the state-recommended 10-percent balance has been realized since 2006.

The largest capital projects include a new vehicle for the police department and funding to begin for the state-mandated MS4 stormwater permitting application, a five-year process.

Brobst said of the budget process, “I told [Zarayko] that I was planning to move my desk into his living room in order to mine his vast experience in preparing 30 budgets. With his passing, my safety net was no longer available.

“I have found the experience to be a great learning tool,” Brobst continued. “Just when I thought I knew everything, I discovered what he did routinely demanded concentration and research.”

Brobst also credited administrative secretary Barbara Matuczinski and bookkeeper Mary Ellen Handlon for their input.

Thanking department heads for their timely and professional submission of their wish lists, Brobst said, “One of my regrets is to not have included an additional police officer; however, with the police bargaining agreement expiring at the end of 2016 and the realistic threat of becoming a ‘large employer’ in the eyes of the federal government health care program, it would be unwise to forge ahead blindly. If the financial picture clears during 2017, council may wish to reconsider this issue.”

Brobst reminded borough lawmakers: “In any case, it must be remembered that a budget is nothing more than an educated guess, and no one knows what the future has in store. Collectively, we will all do our best to ensure that the financial well-being of Northampton Borough is our paramount concern.”