No Tax Increase for Doylestown Borough

Doylestown Borough residents will pay about the same in borough property taxes in 2012 as they did this year.

Borough council members unanimously approved a 2012 budget Monday night that maintains the same tax rate - a total of 11.225 mills - next year as it does this year.

That means the owner of a home assessed at the borough average of $25,000 will pay about $281 in property taxes.

The budget put together by finance director Caroline Brinker and approved by the council outlines $5,167,609 in revenue and $5,516,133 in expenses. The gap will be plugged by borrowing from the borough's fund balance.

Council member Bill Stevens, who heads the borough's finance committee, said borough staff members had done an admirable job holding the line on taxes, fees and water rates, despite declining revenue coming in to the borough.

Only about 16 percent of Doylestown Borough's revenue comes from property taxes, according to figures put together by Brinker. The largest chunk - about 38 percent - comes from income taxes. Other revenue comes from licenses and permit fees, fines, grants and real estate transfer tax.

The borough's total tax rate includes 7.475 mills for the general fund, 1.25 mills for the fire department, 2 mills for a special road tax and .50 mills for the .