UPDATE:
State College Area School Board Ofiicials say that this is just a preliminary agreement on a new budget. They won't make a final call until June of this year. While they did agree to a new 2.9% tax bump, many factors leading up to June could change that number. We'll keep you posted as more information is finalized.
ORIGINAL STORY:
STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - The State College Area School Board has approved a new budget. It will raise taxes this July.
The board passed the budget unanimously Monday night. The now approved budget will start July 1st and will raise taxes by 2.9%.
Randy Brown, the board's Business Administrator says the increase was necessary to offset rising costs for school employees.
"We employ a lot of people here and the cost of benefits, and there's also retirement costs that are going to go up dramatically. As well as upgrading our buildings, and cost money that we need to provide resources to."
The new budget also sets aside 1.6 million dollars to help maintain, renovate and build buildings. Which could go to a new building for State College Area High School.
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.