Jun 21, 2016 1 min read

Avella Area School District Board of Directors approved a $10.5 million budget for 2016-17 with a 1-mill increase.

The action, taken at the June 15 meeting, means an extra $10 in real estate taxes for a house assessed at $10,000, which is the median value in the school district. The increase to 124 mills will generate $22,000 in additional revenue, according to business manager Laura Shola.

The major spending increases, according to Shola, included retirement contributions that rose by 30 percent and a 6 percent increase in health-care premiums. The district saved money by not filling a full-time elementary teaching vacancy, cutting teacher resources and sharing transportation with nearby districts. Other aspects of the budget held the line on expenditures.

“We do have numerous capital projects going on right now, however, those projects are funded through a construction bond and aren’t affecting our budget’s bottom line, as the bond payments have been the same and are built into our operating budget every year,” Shola said.

Those improvements include a new ventilation system in the elementary center.