ADAMS TWP — Mars Area School Board approved the district’s proposed $58.88 million 2023-24 general fund budget Tuesday, May 9, including a 4.15-mill real estate tax increase.

“I think that it’s important to note that no one takes something like this lightly; nobody wants to see a tax increase,” board member Megan Lenz said. “This is the result of an expanded growth in this community, and by doing this, we’re pretty much meeting the bare minimum of what we need to keep the (district) running.”

Lenz said the proposed increase would cost the average homeowner in the district an additional $10 per month.

Superintendent Mark Gross agreed, saying the increase from 101.376 to 105.526 mills was necessary to meet the demands of the expanding district.

“Our district, unfortunately, is just outgrowing itself,” he said.