On Monday evening, Lehighton Area School Board will be faced with the task of approving the final budget for the 2013-2014 school year which at this time includes a slight real estate tax increase.

The proposed 2013-2014 budget includes a 1.86 percent increase correlating to a .88 mills increase for taxpayers.According to Lehighton Area School District Business administrator J. Michael Malay, Jr., the increase to a taxpayer with a $50,000 taxable assessment is $44."I have a problem with the fact that we must vote on this (LASD 2013-2014 budget) before our legislators vote on the state budget," said school board Vice President Hal Resh."It's also unfair to local tax payers to raise taxes with so many unknowns," agreed school board President Rocky Ahner. "When you raise taxes, it should be for a reason not because you can."The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday in the LASD Administration Building, Conference Room A. At that time, the final budget will be voted on. The public is encouraged to attend.