JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch School District will keep the current millage rate of 96.275 mills for the upcoming 2024-25 school year.

“Let’s see how this year goes,” said board member Becky Boyd, who voted against the proposal to increase the millage rate. “Let’s not jump off this cliff.”

On Wednesday, June 12, the board voted 7-2 against increasing the tax rate by 2 mills. In a separate vote, the board voted to keep the millage amount at 96.275 mills. Board members William Gebhart and Patricia Larrimer were the two members who voted consecutively for an increase.

“I think we need (the increase) to balance out our budget,” Larrimer said. “It could reduce our deficit by half.”

Boyd said she is optimistic about the financial future of the school district, citing the slowing of inflation and the Federal Reserve’s lowering of interest rates as indicators of a healthy fiscal future.

She also said the school district is in an “enviable position” with how it’s handled its finances and should wait until next year to see if an increase in millage is necessary — particularly if the district closes its intermediate school.

“We’re in the middle of a building project and we have a cushion for that,” Boyd said. “We plan very carefully and I think this district needs to be commended for managing its finances beautifully.”

The board voted unanimously to approve the 2024-25 final general fund budget in the amount of $39,670,554, an increase from last year’s budget by $1,151,506.