The Kane Borough Council voted 4-3 Monday to adopt a 2012 budget that carries a 3-mill increase in the property tax rate.
Council President Howard Kane joined with Councilwoman Janet Bard and Councilmen Jim Salvamoser and Mike Merry to endorse the tax hike. Councilwoman Holly Harris and Councilmen John Gentilman and Dennis Drost cast the negative votes.
The increase of nearly 28 percent in the tax rate is believed to be one of the highest in Kane history and comes at a time when the area is facing double-digit unemployment and decreasing population.
A two-vehicle traffic accident on Route 6 east of Kane Monday afternoon killed one person and injured five.
One passenger, Bertha M. Ginnery, age 80, died in the crash as Thomas A. Ginnery, age 76, of Oil City, was reportedly driving the green 1995 GMC Safari van.
According to police, the accident involved the van traveling eastbound and a westbound blue 2007 Ford Explorer.
Police said the van "for unknown reasons" crossed the double yellow center lines and entered the westbound lane of travel and into the path of the westbound vehicle.
