The Panther Valley School Board gave final approval to a $34.3 million budget for 2023-24 with a slight tax decrease Wednesday night.

Board Vice President Marco D’Ancona pointed out the board hasn’t raised taxes in three years, and wants to continue moving forward with no tax increases.

The district did not lose any programs or have to make cuts, he said, and is also hiring teachers.

“We’re pretty proud of how hard we worked to get no tax increase,” D’Ancona said. “We give the taxpayers a break. They have more money in their pockets and good education for the kids. That’s what it’s all about.”

Board President Daniel Matika agreed, adding that they will continue to work hard for the taxpayer.

Residents will see the tax millage rate drop from 64.56 mills to 64.55 mills, or 0.02% in Carbon County, and from 60.69 mills to 60.50 mills, or 0.31% in Coaldale.

The decrease equates to about 4 cents a month for those in Carbon County, and 79 cents a month for those in Coaldale, Jesse Walck, business manager, said.

Expenditures total $34,326,117, and the general fund will have about $8,175,552 in its fund balance at the end of the fiscal year.

The board also authorized the homestead and farmstead exclusions tax reductions for the 2023-24 school year, under the provisions of Homestead Property Exclusion Program and Taxpayer Relief acts.

The Panther Valley School District has 2,242 approved homesteads in Carbon County and 587 in Schuylkill County. There are no approved farmsteads in the district.

Those taxpayers with approved exclusions will receive a $329.44 tax reduction.

In other business, the board approved:

• The reappointment of Robert Yurchak as the school district solicitor for 2023-24 school year at a retainer fee of $8,500 and a rate of $120 an hour for work done outside of meetings.

• Approved a three-year service contract with NRG Controls North for the district’s HVAC control systems at a cost of $18,000 for 2023-2024; $13,100, 2024-25; and $13,100, for 25-26. A portion of the first year cost is for mapping of the system, which will allow district personnel to perform the work in the future.

• Authorized a paving improvement project at the Panther Valley Elementary School at a cost not to exceed $35,000.

• A transfer of $100,000 from the general fund to the capital reserve fund.

• The retention of Jones & Co. to perform the district’s auditing services to cover the 2022-23 fiscal year at a cost of $23,800.

• Awarded a contract to Evans Coal & Fuel Oil of Coaldale for 250,000 gallons of heating oil at cost of $2.7742 per delivery of 3,000 gallons or less and the same amount per delivery of 6,000 gallons or more. This is a savings of about 50 cents a gallon over last year, Walck said.

• Approved the multi-county school district resolution, which deals with the effects of the rebalancing of taxes between the counties each year.