The Karns City School Board approved a $26.8 million budget that does not raise taxes in the 2018-19 school year.

KARNS CITY — Karns City School Board approved a $26.8 million budget that does not raise taxes for the 2018-19 school year.

The budget, which the board approved Monday, includes slight increases in property assessment values in Butler and Armstrong counties due to assessment updates in those counties and slight decreases in the tax millage for all three counties in the school district.

Taxpayers won't see a change in their tax bills because the assessment increases are offset by the millage decreases, said Eric Ritzert, district superintendent.

In personnel business the board furloughed an elementary teacher due to an enrollment decline, but is expected to rescind the furlough at the July 23 meeting and assign him to work as a “go-to” substitute for the 2018-19 school year.

Nicholas Stockert was furloughed from the fourth grade teaching position he held for a year, but is expected to have a job as an everyday substitute, Ritzert said.

The decrease in elementary enrollment was anticipated, but there are no teachers retiring or taking leaves that would have created an opening for Stockert, he said.

A full story will appear in the Eagle.