As it attempts to craft together next year's budget, Tamaqua Area School District finds itself faced with a $3.3 million deficit.

Business manager Connie Ligenza reviewed the 2016-17 spending plan with the school board recently.Ligenza said the district's current millage rate is 34.29 mills. The value of one mill is $317,365.She said the district's preliminary budget currently calls for a 1.09-mill increase due primarily to the capital needs/improvements of its buildings.If the board were to approve a budget with a 1.09-mill increase, it would raise the district's millage rate to 35.38 mills.That would mean a homeowner with a home valued at $100,000, which would be assessed at $50,000, would pay $55 more to the district in property taxes next year.Ligenza said the primary reasons for the deficit are the Public School Employees Retirement System employer contribution rate, which in 2017 will cost the district $3.6 million, a 30-plus percent increase, and the cost for Cyber Charter schools, which costs $700,000 per year, matters that are not uncommon across the state.She said the board plans to address the deficit by "taking a look at everything across all operational areas and coming back with recommendations."Ligenza said the district may consider using a portion of its fund balance to balance the 2016-17 spending plan.Board approved items for the 2016-17 budget include for the high school, middle school, special education, facilities and athletics that total $861,950.They consist of $35,000 in reserve, the purchase of 30 laptops ($24,000), 15 thin clients ($5,250), and desk upgrades ($12,000) at the high school; Unobook Tablets two sets, 30-Language Arts/Math ($16,000); Thin Clients, 10-1 per Language Arts classroom ($4,000); and security cameras ($10,000) at the middle school; a copier ($15,000) and interactive table WP Autistic Support ($8,500) for the special education department; football/soccer uniforms ($16,200) for the athletics department; and $716,000 for the facilities department, which includes replacing a portion of the high school roof at a cost of $350,000.The district did not raise taxes in the 2015-16 school year. The last time it did was in the 2014-15 school year, when the millage rate went up by 0.93 mills.The board plans to revisit the budget when it meets at 7 p.m. April 12.