SLIPPERY ROCK - One week before the scheduled final vote, Slippery Rock School Board members still aren't sure which version of the 2005-06 school district budget will pass.

Board members took one more look at the budget Monday night at the Slippery Rock Middle School library. They will meet again at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the middle school to vote on the final budget.

At this point, the budget reflects a 3.9-mill real estate tax increase, which is down from the 4.7-mill increase the board examined last month. This means the budget for next year is about $22 million.

The district's current tax rate is 97.1 mills.

The tax increase was reduced because of two teacher retirements, a decrease in the food service subsidy, a change in the gifted student program and a change in the standardized testing of students, according to Paul Cessar, business manager.

Board member Tom Reiber said he would vote next week for a budget that includes a 5.14-mill increase, consistent with the preliminary budget approved in May. He would take the money saved by the items listed above to build up the district's fund balance.

Board members Dennis Thompson and Randy Giesler said the logical document to approve would be the version that included the 3.9-mill increase. Other board members didn't comment and John Bonando and Tammy Orloski were absent.

Cessar said the district will build its fund balance with the sale of Franklin Township Elementary School. The district, in the midst of a negotiated sale, is expected to net at least $407,000 from that sale.

Teacher retirements are the main reason for the drop in the tax increase.

"We have more than any other one time in the district," said Cessar, estimating about 19 retirements among staff members this spring. Each retirement allows savings in salary because the replacement staff members usually start at a lower salary than the retiree.

For each mill, a property owner pays $1 for each $1,000 of assessed value. A mill generated $80,000 in revenue this year in the district and it is expected to generate $82,745 next year.