Jan 20, 2017 By Luke Campbell 2 min read

Taxes in the Mt. Lebanon School District could be on the rise once again after a proposed preliminary budget was approved at the Jan. 16 school board meeting.

The proposed budget includes $98.9 million in expenditures, which would raise the school property tax rate next year to 24.76 mills; an increase of .83 mills over the current rate.

However, without any numbers back from the state, the district is required by law to approve a preliminary budget to apply for exemptions. It also allows the board flexibility when preparing a finalized budget that is required by the end of June.

Being that proposed budget is over the state’s Act 1 index, which limits the district to an increase of no more than 2.5 percent, it could have to seek exceptions from the state Department of Education.

One of those exceptions would be for the expected increase in state pension funding, raising the district’s tax rate by approximately .30 mills. The other exception would be for special education costs.

The final budget does not need to be improved until the end of June.

The board also approved the 2017-18 school calendar after administration proposed the first day of school to be postponed until after Labor Day to allow contractors an extended time to complete the air conditioning project in the middle and elementary schools.

The first day of classes next school year will be held Sept. 5.