The Mars Area School Board will not raise taxes in order to meet their 2021-22 school year budget.
Following a presentation from retiring Business Manager Jill Swaney, the board voted to approve the $55 million budget by a vote of 8 to 1. Megan Lenz was the only board member to vote against the final version due to her desire to do better than maintain the status quo.
District tax revenue next year is expected to be back to normal allowing for all teachers and staff to be retained. The district does plan to hire a special education teacher and a reading specialist for the primary center as well as update social studies texts.
Mars is one of many districts dealing with increased expenses as a result of more students electing to attend cyber charter schools and just over $1 million in federal COVID assistance will be used to help balance the budget. The amount of money needed from the district’s general fund next year will depend on how many cyber students choose to return.
This budget is the 13th in the last 14 years which has not included a tax increase for Mars taxpayers.
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