The Butler Area School Board will be voting at their next meeting on a resolution that would limit the amount of tax increase in next year’s budget to the state index.
Director of Business Services Deborah Brandstetter provided the board with her final preliminary 2017-18 budget draft before the decision needs to be made at the January 23rd meeting.
The draft includes the maximum 3.2 mill tax increase allowed under the current state index. The draft also includes an estimated $6 million deficit which would drain the district’s general fund.
A vote against the resolution would not mean that the district would be raising taxes above the index, it would just mean they are asking permission to consider that option. Exemptions as a result of special education and retirement costs would allow the district to go up to a 4.2 mil maximum increase which would allow the district to collect about $2 million more than they have during the current year.
Three board members attended a finance committee work session last Friday morning for in depth discussion.