Tamaqua Area School District appears poised to reduce its projected deficit by about $1.2 million, though a 1.09 millage rate increase remains on track.

Business Manager Connie Ligenza discussed reductions from the board's approved list for the 2016-17 budget with the school board on Tuesday.The previous board-approved list of $861,950 consisted mainly of building, infrastructure and technology improvements for all buildings in the district.From there, the largest reduction would come through postponing those improvements, in addition to postponing the replacement of a portion of the high school roof costing $350,000.Other savings could be realized through the potential to limit in-town busing ($88,000); site budget reductions ($100,000); summer cleaning/maintenance reduction ($100,000); textbooks ($30,000); by leaving a second English as a Second Language position at a 0.6 full-time equivalent, versus expanding it to a full-time position ($21,000); and employee retirement savings ($28,000).By doing so, the district would be faced with a $2.12 million deficit, and would have to use $1,923,000 from its fund balance to balance the 2016-17 spending plan.The district's preliminary budget calls for a 1.09-mill increase due primarily to the capital needs/improvements of its buildings that remain on the board-approved list of additional items.Board President Larry Wittig complimented all those involved with the budget process."You guys have done a really good job," Wittig said.The district's current millage rate is 34.29 mills. The value of one mill is $317,365.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 preliminary budget is due by the end of May, while final budget adoption is due by June 30.Last month, Ligenza said the district was faced with a $3.3 million deficit due primarily to 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, $700,000 per year, matters that are not uncommon across the state.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.