BUTLER TWP — Several Butler Area School District buildings need maintenance, which is the main reason the school board proposed a tax increase in its preliminary 2024-25 budget.

The board voted Monday, May 13, to advertise a proposed budget with nearly $115 million in expenditures, which includes a 2.66-mill increase, bringing the millage rate to 109.64. The proposed budget is balanced, and is a 4.8% increase from the 2023-24 budget.

Superintendent Brian White said at the meeting five buildings need new roofs and other schools need improvements in security systems, HVAC, paving, bathrooms and more.

“The biggest frustration I get out of parents generally is facilities,” White said. “Concrete ... is a trip hazard or floor tile needs to be replaced. It’s legitimate. It’s not, ‘I’d just like to make it look pretty.’”

According to White, staff salaries and benefits remain the highest costs, but capital projects are the main source of expected increased costs. Costs related to maintaining the former Butler Middle School, which the district still owns, are factored into the budget at around $170,000, but White said he may have an update about the sale of the building at next month’s board meeting.

White said school administrators crafted the budget using financial figures from a preliminary budget drafted by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration, which proposes generous funding to public schools. However, the school district erred on a more conservative side, because state budget talks aren’t expected to begin until the end of May. Heather Bonzo, finance manager for the school district, said local tax revenue makes up half the proposed budget’s expected revenues.

The district raised taxes to accommodate its 2023-24 budget — the first time the district raised taxes in about four years. White said the expiration of funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act is not hurting the district too much, because administrators focused on using that money for one-time expenses.

The proposed budget also sees an increase in its fund transfer line, which has been put into place, White said, in case state funding is less than expected.

“We have all these capital needs; we think there’s a justification for a tax increase,” White said. “Conversely, if the state doesn’t come through with the funding, we might need that tax increase just to balance the budget.”

With several schools in the district in need of roof repairs, the board also voted Monday to apply for about $6.5 million from the state Public School Facility Improvement Grant. Bonzo said the grant would require a 25% match from the district.

In addition to capital projects, the district is also planning to revamp its mathematics and science curricula. The school board voted Monday to advertise the curricula for public viewing for 30 days, before making a final vote to put them into action. White said changing curriculum needs is also an increased expense this year.

Julie Hopp, director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, said the newly proposed math curriculum in elementary and middle schools is designed to have students build upon previously learned skills, which differs from the current curriculum. Similarly, the proposed science curriculum would incorporate more Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) lessons.

“Go Math is what we have right now. It’s very procedural-based; it teaches kids procedures instead of building mathematicians,” Hopp said. “We want kids to have foundational knowledge and have experiences that are going to build that foundational knowledge.”