ADAMS TWP — Mars School District taxpayers will not see a property tax rate increase in the next school year.

The board voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday night to approve a final 2008-09 budget of $35.3 million. Although the expenditures are up from the current year's $33.3 million, no tax increase will be levied.

Jill Swaney, Mars business manager, said the district was able to hold the line on taxes because of:

• An increase in assessed real estate value

• Savings in health care costs as a result of the new contract for teachers

• No state-mandated increase in the district's faculty retirement contribution

• Collection of more income tax funds because of residential growth

• Carefully holding the line on costs

The 132-mill budget includes one new teacher each in grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 as well as new teachers in elementary art, elementary reading and a high school teacher in the department dictated by growth in the next school year. Two paraprofessionals, an administrative assistant and a lunch monitor also were added.

A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

The current budget, approved in June 2007, included a 4-mill increase. The budget discussed at a finance meeting in April included a recommended 2-mill increase in 2008-09, but administrators were able to rework it to avoid an increase. No programs were cut in the new budget.

Swaney said the three largest costs in next year's budget continue to be teacher salaries, faculty and employee benefits and debt repayment.