Town of Pomfret officials are considering a 2019 budget that would include a slight tax increase.

Supervisor Don Steger stated in a recent e-mail, “There’s a $0.05 increase in the tax rate.” That would mean a townwide tax rate of $3.98 per $1,000 of assessed property.

Steger said the hike was mostly due to the increasing costs of doing business. He specifically tabbed insurance, the rising minimum wage and fuel as three areas where expenditures are rising.

The townwide rate was $3.95 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2015 and 2016, and went down to $3.93 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2017 and 2018.

According to Steger, for residents outside Fredonia, the 2019 tax rate will be $8.60 per $1,000 of assessed value — also a five-cent increase. In 2017 and 2018, it was $8.55 per $1,000 assessed.

A public hearing on the budget is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the town hall.