Residents of the Mars Area School District could again pay more in property taxes next year after the Board voted to move forward with a budget that would increase milage next year.
The Mars proposed budget of nearly $63 million for the 2024-25 school year is nearly $4 million more than last year and includes a 3.474 mil tax increase but still passed by a vote of 7 to 2.
The new milage rate for taxpayers of the Mars Area School District would climb to 109 and works out to about $90 more annually for the average district property owner. The budget is still projected to end up with a deficit of nearly $1 million which would need to be balanced using the district’s general fund.
This budget includes pay for eight new district employees as well as an expected increase of over 10% in the cost of health insurance but the majority is needed in preparation for the upcoming building project at the Mars elementary school.
This proposed budget is available for public review for the next 30 days through the Mars website well as at the District’s school buildings and administration offices.
This is the second year in a row that Mars has proposed a tax increase with the approval last year of a 4.15 mil increase. The board is expected to vote to adopt the final budget next month.
