Although the budget for 2013-14 includes a $1.4 million shortfall, the Tamaqua School Board is opting to hold the line on taxes by making up the difference from the district's general fund balance.

During a special budget meeting Tuesday, directors voted to have district business manager Connie Ligenza advertise the preliminary 2013-14 budget for adoption during the board meeting May 14. Revenues are projected to be $25.3 million and expenses $26.7 million.The ending general fund balance for the 2012-13 school year will be $4.7 million; at the end of the 2013-14 school year the ending fund balance is projected to be $3.3 million. The picture doesn't get better for 2014-15, according to projections which predict a $2 million shortfall between revenue and expenses.In other action, the board approved accepting three $5,000 scholarship awards from the John E. Morgan foundation. Superintendent Carol Makuta said that the foundation annually awards $5,000 scholarships to the top three students academically in the high school's graduating class.Also, in a change to the school calendar, the board approved Friday, May 31 as an Act 80 Day for the elementary schools, which means that teachers will be in school but the students will not. The secondary school students will have a 2 p.m. dismissal on May 31.