For the second consecutive year, Sharpsville residents are facing the possibility of at least a 3-mill property tax hike.

Last week, council proposed a $2,780,760 budget for 2004 that calls for a hike of 3 mills, or about 17 percent, from 17.7 to 20.7 mills. A year ago, council raised taxes 3.67 mills, or 26 percent, from 14.03 to 17.7 mills.

In addition, council said residents could be confronting a 3 percent water-rate hike to balance the budget.

Earlier this month, council President Jack Cardwell announced the possibility of a 4.5-mill tax hike, but Borough Manager Michael Wilson said council was able to trim some areas to reduce it.

Among the cuts, Wilson said this week, were a part-time secretary's position worth about $8,000 and the borough's newsletter, worth about $2,000. In addition, $21,000 that had been earmarked for the purchase of a new police cruiser will come out of the capital-improvement fund instead of the general fund budget, he said.

The general fund portion of the 2004 budget is $1,104,458. Other big-ticket expenditures from the non-general fund accounts include: