Property owners in Lehighton Area School District can breathe a sigh of relief.

Real estate taxes will not be going up in the next budget, according to Business Manager Brian Feick.Based on that news, the school board unanimously voted Wednesday night to stay within its Act 1 tax index for 2015-16, which is 2.6 percent. The vote means that should the board change gears and favor a tax increase, it could only raise the rate as much as 2.6 percent without going to a voter referendum.The index is calculated by averaging the percent increases in the Pennsylvania statewide average weekly wage and the federal employment cost index for elementary/secondary schools.By a 5-3 vote in June, the board voted in favor of a 0.56-mill real estate tax increase for 2014-15."A lot of districts are concerned they may have to increase taxes," Lehighton Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said. "We're very happy to be staying level in 2015-16. Bringing Brian on board as our business manager has been a blessing in disguise. Also, our staff has only looked at things they need and not things they want. They need to be commended for that."The board did not raise taxes in 2013-14.In other business Wednesday night, the board:• Approved professional service contract payments to JMSI Environmental for $18,260, Barry Isett and Associates for $5,490 and EI Associates for $404,300.• Approved Kyle Spotts to attend the 48th annual State Athletic Directors Association conference from March 17-20 in Hershey at a cost not to exceed $950.• Approved the proposed budgets for Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 and the Lehigh Carbon Community College, all at no increase to the district.• Approved supplemental funding to the Lehighton Future Business Leaders of America to attend a leadership conference from April 13-15 in Hershey at a cost not to exceed$3,500.• Approved a payment to Sargent Enterprises for $168,300 for asbestos abatement work at the middle school.• Approved additions to the substitute list, pending clearances, including Jason Daubenspeck, Claire Haja, John Henne, William Hersch III, Valance Fedor, Olga Blahy, Christina Bradley, Brendan Dunne and Ashley Schirer.• Accepted the retirement requests of Bonnie Cortese, assistant to the superintendent and assistant board secretary; Kathy Lloyd, middle school nurse; and Marsha Long, elementary reading teacher. All retirements are effective at the end of the school year.• Hired Maria VanNorman as instructor for the high school's winter recovery program.• Hired Kacey Galasso as a long-term substitute elementary teacher at Shull-David Elementary School for the second semester of 2014-15 at a prorated salary of $38,310.