Whitehall Township property owners on Monday received a bit of early holiday cheer. Their real estate taxes will not go up in 2017, and they will be paying less than they are now to have their garbage and recyclable materials picked up.

The board of commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the 2017 budget, which lists $22,222,833 as total funds appropriated. In October, Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. provided commissioners with a proposed budget for their review.

The budget will be supported by the 2.80 real estate millage rate, earned income taxes, realty transfer taxes, local services taxes and the $5 per capita tax.

“I trust that you will find the 2017 budget to be an ambitious plan, seeking to address replacement of aging infrastructure and equipment, retaining staffing levels and providing the financial wherewithal for our departments to meet the needs for government services,” Hozza told the board.

The present annual $330 garbage fee will be reduced to $300 in 2017.

The budget confirms street improvements across the township are a priority for officials.

The township is expected to address the need for a new police station to replace the antiquated station on Lehigh Street by selecting a site and moving forward with implementing the plan for an emergency services building.

The budget has funding for a new fire truck for the Egypt-based station. A new fire truck for West Catasauqua should arrive in early 2017.

The budget also includes $1 million to convert the 2,300 remaining township-owned street lights to LED technology. The conversion will take the present $130,000 annual electricity tab down to $65,000.

With the economy on the uptick and township residents employed, the anticipated revenue from earned income taxes is $6,345,366, with property tax revenue close behind at an anticipated $6,159,924.