Residents of Mercer won't have to tighten their belts too much in the new year since council has less than a half-mill tax hike in property owners' future. The hike, which will cost the average homeowner less than $5, will cover the cost of the borough's proposed 2004 budget of $1,255,396.

A tough economy and a small deficit from 2002 were the reasons borough secretary Debbie Scruci gave for the tax hike, which brings the millage to an even 20.

"Our tax revenues did not come in this year as we proposed. We have to assume with the economy, the wage taxes were down," she said. "Some of our expenses were down, but our revenue was down also."

Though no plans for any projects are in the works next year, a special fund was set aside in 2003 to repair sidewalks, specifically the Greenville Avenue area, but the repairs were put on hold.

"What happened is there was so much construction and excavation from Consumers' Pennsylvania Water in that same area that it was too late to start the project in 2003," she said, adding that the water company would also make some sidewalk repairs and replacements because of its project. "Consumers had done such extensive excavation that we thought it would be best to wait until they had their repairs finished," she said.