Residents who live in the Lehighton Area School District appear to be in line for a nominal tax increase next year.

That's after the school board, on an 8-1 vote on Monday, approved the proposed final budget for the 2014-15 school year with a 0.65-mill increase.Director William Hill Jr. cast the only dissenting vote. Before the vote, Hill suggested that the board attempt to adopt a budget that would not raise taxes.The $37,139,981 spending plan calls for a 0.65-mill increase, which if approved, would raise the millage rate from 47.32 to 47.97 mills.If the board were to approve next year's spending plan at that rate, a homeowner with a home valued at $100,000, which would be assessed at $50,000, would pay $32.50 more in property taxes to the school district next year.Conversely, a homeowner with a home valued at $150,000, which would be assessed at $75,000, would pay $48.75 more.Even with a 0.65-mill increase, the district would still be faced with a $1,032,609 shortfall, of which it would utilize $800,000 from the fund balance; $600,000 of which would be for health insurance, and $200,000 for the district's budgetary reserve, which wold leave a net shortfall of $232,609.Under public comment, resident David Bradley asked the board why it had a shortfall.Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver responded that the shortfall is due to the projected revenues versus projected expenditures.Bradley then peppered Cleaver with a series of questions."Why are you planning on spending more money than you are taking in?"Cleaver told Bradley the 0.65-mill increase would offset the shortfall.Bradley then asked why the board would propose a budget that costs more than what the district has coming in.It was noted by Director Hal Resh that the board's finance committee is scheduled to meet on June 10.Final budget adoption is scheduled for June 23.