Tamaqua Area School Board on Tuesday adopted its preliminary budget for 2023-2024 school year with no tax increase.

The $40.1 million spending plan calls for $37,342,378 in expenses and $36,579,648 in revenues. The budget begins with a fund balance of $2.8 million and ends with $2.03 million fund balance.

The board chose to forgo a tax increase, which was in an earlier proposed budget, and offset spending by drawing down the fund balance.

The board raised taxes 4.8% last year. The millage rate will stay the same at 41.77 mills.

The district’s largest expenses are salaries and benefits, which represent 38% and 31% of the budget respectively. Additional personnel in the special education program are included in this budget, moving one person from part-time to full-time and adding a teacher and an administrator to assist.

The district expects to see additional revenue for special education from the state this year, based on the governor’s budget proposal which increased funding in that area.

The district also expects to spend about $450,000 in building maintenance and upgrades, some related to safety. New classroom doors and new movable, partition walls in the high school and Tamaqua elementary gyms are planned, and expected to cost around $342,000. The floor to ceiling partitions must be replaced, because parts are no longer available to fix them, Superintendent Ray Kinder said at a previous meeting.

The partitions aren’t a danger, he said, but it would create problems with use of the facilities if the walls become immobile, he said.

Other expenses include $11,500 for hinges on the auditorium doors, as the doors no longer close on their own – a function needed for safety.

District staff has worked on them, but the parts needed are proprietary, Kinder said.

Security system upgrades are also included in the budget.

The board will formally adopt the 2023-24 budget in June.

Coffee bar

The board agreed to purchase equipment for the implementation of a coffee bar, providing espressos, cappuccinos and other specialty drinks at the high school.

Business manager Connie Ligenza said excess cash in the food service department will be used for the purchase of the equipment, which is the largest cost in this endeavor.

“Part of it will come complimentary as a result of buying product from the vendor,” she said.

The drinks will be similar to those served in specialty coffee shops, but will be more affordably priced, Ligenza said.

Board President Larry Wittig questioned selling coffee, an often-highly caffeinated beverage, at the school.

Superintendent Ray Kinder said the drinks have to meet nutritional guidelines, and at the high school level, they do. Other non-caffeinated drinks and alternatives will be offered as well, he said.

The cost of the equipment from ABM of Pittsburgh is $9,060.