Lehighton Area School District taxpayers would see no property tax increase if a proposed final 2022-23 budget unanimously approved Monday night by the school board holds for another month.

The budget calls for estimated revenues of $44.78 million and expenditures of $45.2 million, with the gap filled by the district’s fund balance.

According to the budget, which is available for review on Lehighton’s website, the district’s projected fund balance at the beginning of 2022-23 would be $4.44 million and $4.02 million at the end of the fiscal year after using a portion to balance the budget.

Earlier this month, the board debated using the fund balance against a small tax increase. Increasing taxes by 1 mill would have cost an additional $4.66 per month for a taxpayer with an average property assessment. According to Rarick, 7,174 properties in Lehighton fall below the average assessed value, while 2,378 are above it.

Board President Joy Beers, at a workshop two weeks ago, said she envisioned the district’s goal this budget season as one of keeping the status quo while Lehighton undergoes an administration transition.

“We have an interim superintendent and we’re trying to keep the boat sailing until we hire a new one, so this budget really keeps a lot of things the same,” Beers said. “The new superintendent will be tasked with creating a vision and analyzing the status quo so we can take a look at things like our curriculum and grants and what types of things we can do going forward.”

LASD property taxes were increased 4.2% in 2021-22 and 3.6% in 2020-21.

Budget details

Salaries, at $15.39 million, and benefits, at $13.31 million, make up a combined 63.92% of the district’s budget. Payments for outside charter schools, Lehighton’s internal charter program, Behavioral Health Associates, the Carbon County Intermediate Unit #21, and technical schools make up 14.6% of the budget. Most of those payments are classified under “other purchased services,” which is projected at $6.47 million for 2022-23.

One-time purchases through American Rescue Plan funds, totaling $525,000, include iPads, information technology switches and districtwide access points.

The 2022-23 budget currently includes the addition of an elementary center music teacher, middle school reading specialist, high school math teacher and a 10-month middle school secretary. The district staffed all of those positions at one time, but cut back through attrition over the years.

The district will vote on a final 2022-23 budget at its June 27 meeting.