Montoursville Area School Board Tuesday night approved a $26.4 million final budget for next year that holds the line on real estate taxes.
The spending plan reflects a nearly $1 million increase from last year, and the millage remains at 13.42.
Last year the district absorbed a hike of .12 mills.
Business Manager Robert Saul said the spending plan reflects little change from the preliminary budget approved last month, and the increased costs can be explained, in part, by higher expenses for retirement and health care.
The spending plan passed after no discussion by the board.
Voting in favor of the budget were Ellen Stoner, Scott Konkle, Tom McNamara, Dale Ulmer, Dora Pioli, Jill Kaplan and George Hagemeyer. Roger Leight and Jeff Schans were absent from the meeting.
In other matters, the board approved a five-year contract agreement between the district and the Montoursville Area Education Support Professional Association.
Under the new agreement, which runs through 2017, secretaries and aides will receive hourly raises but pay more out-of-pocket expenses for health care insurance.
The pay increase will be 30 cents for each of the first two years of the agreement, 35 cents in the third and fourth years, and 50 cents in the final year.
