DuBoistown Borough Council on Thursday night passed a preliminary 2013 budget that holds the line on real estate taxes.
The $437,844 spending plan is slightly below the 2012 budget.
As with this year's $438,294 budget, the real estate millage remains at 3.93.
Costs for public safety are projected to increase from $112,703 to $123,586.
Most other areas of the spending plan are expected to decrease including the budget for general government, buildings and plants which falls from $45,450 to $27,200.
"We came up with a balanced budget," reported Councilman Norman Cowden.
Council President Michael Caschera said the final budget is expected to be passed at council's next regular meeting in December.
Council also passed a 2013 sewer budget of $550,086, an increase of about $100,000 over this year.
The budget proposes a $60,000 increase in treatment costs with the Williamsport Sanitary Authority.
Jack Bickhart, engineering services manager, Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority, reported that a number of problems were found with sewer line laterals in the Valley Street area.
The problems, he said, amount to tree root intrusion into laterals and accumulation of grease in the lines.
In other business, council approved the first phase of a plan for a housing development to be constructed at the end of Summer and Spring streets.
Raymond Venema, of SBI Land LLC, the developer of the site, reported to council that he has so far sold no lots for the plan.
Councilman Michael Rodgers reported that pickup of leaves in the borough is going well.
He also reported that borough workers are preparing to put up Christmas lights in the community.
Council met in executive session to discuss personnel matters.
