Taxpayers in West Middlesex may see a 1-mill tax hike in 2003 so the borough can start saving for a new fire truck, Mayor David George said.

Borough council is expected to vote Monday on the $783,191 budget that is funded by a 14.667-mill levy.

That includes money that will be set aside for the new truck.

A mill of taxes generates about $9,477 for the borough, George said.

This will be the first budget year that money will be set aside for the new truck. "We've gotta start somewhere," George said.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a property's 1970 market value.

At 14.667 mills, a property assessed at $10,000 would carry a tax bill of $147.