Lehighton Area School District's proposed final 2017-18 operating budget includes no tax increase following unanimous approval Monday night by the school board.

The nearly $41 million budget will be balanced with $1.86 million of the district fund balance, leaving the property tax rate at 47.88 mills for the third straight year.A final adoption is expected in June.In other action items, the district:• Approved construction payments totaling $2,438,943.97• Retained William G. Schwab as the solicitor for the 2017-18 school year at an hourly rate of $160 per hour.• Approved the agreement with Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 to participate in the Technology Education Legal Pool Counsel consortium. The technology pool provides proactive strategies, training and policies designed to prevent digital-age problems that can lead to liability. The cost to the district would be no more than $900 per year.• Approved Andrew Yenser as treasurer for the 2017-18 school year with his $800 compensation to be donated to the Lehighton Area Memorial Library.• Approved Brian Feick as board secretary for a four-year term running through June 30, 2021.• Approved the purchase of replacement carpeting for Lehighton Area High School classrooms, as recommended by the buildings and grounds Committee, through the National Join Powers Alliance, a national governmental purchasing cooperative, at a total cost not to exceed $46,721.39. It will be funded through the 2017-18 capital budget.• Approved a maintenance agreement for environmental systems with HT Lyons for the middle and high schools through May 31, 2022.• Approved Thomas Weidner, Beth Hudlow, Bryan Buffington, Diane Brownmiller and Angela Harris to summer positions and hired Ellen Paez, Doris Reed, David Henry, Karen Hines, Eric Schlecht, Alicia Moyer, Eric Kindrew, Kelly Fadden, Richard Armbruster, Warren Malick, Linda Guy, Virginia Fairchild and Zachary Feifel as summer cleaners.• Accepted the retirements of Dennis Brozino, utility custodian; Karen Nichols, paraprofessional; Nan Cressley, paraprofessional; Pamela Everett, paraprofessional; William Kennedy, attendance officer; Byron Schnell, utility custodian.• Approved Gloria Bowman and Stacey Duerst as board voting delegates at the Pennsylvania School Boards Association Delegate Assembly in Hershey.• Approved the first reading of policies of Admission of Students and Allowability of Costs.• Approved selected Title I parents and students to attend the Pennsylvania Department of Education State Parent Conference at Seven Springs Resort from July 10-12 at a cost not to exceed $1,250 with funding through the 2016-17 Title I grant.• Approved a contract with Behavioral Health Associates for the 2017-18 school year and to participate in the "Cost Savings Program."