The Easton Area School Board adopted a preliminary budget Tuesday that calls for a 3.5 percent tax increase.
But that number could go down depending on state education funding levels, according to Chief Operating Officer Michael Simonetta.
The vote means the school district will seek exceptions to the state set index that limits a tax increase to 3.2 percent. The school board needs voter approval to go above the index unless the exceptions are approved.
The school district will seek exceptions that could allow the district to raise taxes up to 4.8 percent, but the district has no intention of raising taxes that high, Simonetta said.
“We never said we were going for 4.8 percent,” Simonetta said.
The school board voted 5-3 to adopt the preliminary budget. Voting against the budget were Frank Pintabone, Jodi Hess and Robert Fehnel. Matt Monahon was absent.
Simonetta said the preliminary budget gives the school district flexibility depending on a worst-case scenario for state subsidies.
“This is not where we want to end up,” he said.
“I just want to make clear it’s a preliminary budget,” said board member Billie Weiss. “Nothing’s locked in stone.”
“As long as we’re very, very clear on that,” added board member Baron Vanderburg, who voted by telephone.
Easton school board authorizes tax hike up for 2017-18
The owner of a home assessed for tax purposes at $62,000 — the district average — would pay $130 more in taxes next year if the 3.5 percent tax increase stays in effect.
The millage rate would to up 1.85 mills to 61.88 mils. One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.
A 3.2 percent tax hike would carry a $115 increase for the owner of the average district home.
The board has until May 31 to adopt a final preliminary budget and until June 30 to adopt the final budget.
Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
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