$32.59.
That's what the average increase in annual property taxes will be in the Williamsport Area School District starting in July under terms of a budget approved by the school board this past week.
Look, we never like a tax increase.
But considering the yawning budget deficit the Williamsport Area School Board was looking at a few months ago, the new fiscal plan is probably the best balance of education needs and taxpayer consideration.
The .339 mill increase achieved in large part through staff cuts accomplishes a lot. It allows the district to keep up with retirement, which increased by $506,000 in the 2012-13 budget.
It allows the district to maintain viable education staffing and programs, though there was some pain in that area.
An unemotional picture of the budget shows that the district still spends 57.5 percent of its budget on instruction, it's largest expenditure by far, as it should be.
The picture also shows expenditures rising by less than 1 percent from the current budget - about a $500,000 increase.
While there are surely points for people to quibble with, depending on their viewpoint, education integrity and spending discipline were maintained. The district is to be commended for that.
