Tamaqua Area school directors considered a tax increase during a preliminary budget discussion held for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Business Manager Connie Ligenza said that as for real estate taxes, early figures show a slight increase in millage.

“Included in this budget is a 1.92-mill increase,” she told directors Tuesday.

The possible tax increase would be 4.8%. One mill is equal to approximately $315,000, Ligenza noted.

According to Ligenza, the increase would amount to about $6.71 per month or $80 a year for most district taxpayers. She based the estimate on the average assessed property value of just under $42,000.

Tuesday’s discussion was the first of several the board will have before the June 30 deadline to adopt a general fund budget.

The presentation included discussions about expenditures, which are expected to jump by about $2.76 million, or 7.6%, in the next fiscal year.

Driving the increases, Ligenza explained, are increases in salaries, including a proposed higher rate for substitute teachers, as well as a spike in benefits, pension contributions and insurances.

The district is planning to add five additional positions, including a social worker, special education teachers, and an English as a Second Language teacher.

According to district Superintendent Ray Kinder Jr., the district’s student population has increased over the past few years, and is estimated at just over 2,200. Kinder explained that many of the new students need ESL courses and special education instruction.

The district plans to use some of its recovery act funds to support the new positions.

“The majority of our costs are people-driven, so we have our salaries and benefits that equate to nearly 75% of our budget,” Ligenza explained.

About 19% of the expenditures are related to services, such as transportation, behavioral health and other contracted services.

The preliminary plan also shows an increase in charter school and transportation costs. School board President Larry Wittig surmised that the transportation costs could skyrocket given the recent uptick in fuel prices.