BUTLER TWP — The Butler Area School Board reviewed the current preliminary budget for the 2025-26 year at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Feb. 10.

“We are projecting no tax increase and a balanced budget, but it’s very conditional,” superintendent Brian White said.

The preliminary budget projects a 2.64% increase in expenses compared to 2024-25. White clarified that the current preliminary budget is based on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2025-26 state budget, and changes to that may affect the district.

The board also mentioned that contingencies are being developed in the case of changes to federal funding. White said the district receives roughly $3 million in federal funding annually.

“We have to develop contingencies that might reflect a change in our funding,” White said. “$3 million is a small percentage of our budget, but it’s actually a large dollar amount. $3 million has a tremendous impact on our programs.”

White further stressed the changes being made on a federal level may impact funding and programming, but was unsure as to whether those changes would be positive or negative. Regardless, White expressed a desire to not increase taxes.

“The reality is, you’re feeling inflation. Everyone’s feeling inflation. We’re feeling it too,” White said. “But we have a lot of families that we can’t pile on. We have to separate our needs and wants.”

The budget must be finalized by May and approved by June.

• The board also unanimously approved the proposed 2025-26 budget for the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School. The proposed budget is projected to increase by roughly 7.5%, or $500,000, compared to 2024-25.

The Vo-Tech proposed budget needs to be approved by all participating school districts to move forward.

• The board also approved an overnight field trip to Gettysburg with an expected cost of $58,500. The vote received six yeas, one abstention, and one nay.

• White also announced a date for an open house at the former Butler Middle School building. It will be held Feb. 27 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and will give attendees a chance to tour the first two floors of the building.