Hermitage residents haven't seen a tax increase since 1991, and city commissioners kept the status quo by sticking with their proposed budget of $9,016,312 that will keep property taxes at 5 mills in 2003.

Commissioners approved the budget Wednesday.

A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. At 5 mills, a home assessed at $20,000 carries a property tax bill of $100. Property taxes are expected to generate $1,118,000 next year.

The city's earned income tax is expected to bring in $4,100,000 in 2003.

Increased costs include about $100,000 more for the police budget, reflecting a 3.75-percent wage increase in the last year of the police department's three-year contract. Other increases include the purchase of $60,000 worth of street department equipment to carry out the city's plan to have the street department conduct regular maintenance of stormwater drains.