Tough decisions await the Mars School District as it works to resolve a projected $2.5 million 2012-13 budget deficit. But the district would be facing a significantly larger challenge if district teachers had not agreed to a one-year wage freeze in August.

Still, more sacrifice might be necessary for next year and beyond.

It’s understandable that because of the teachers union’s generosity last year — generosity that will have cumulative effects in future years — it will be painful for the district to take what some might see as an unfair stance in new-pact negotiations currently under way for 2012-13 and possibly several years beyond.

However, the teachers were aware in August that their pay concession would not by itself solve the district’s financial challenges. The future would in large part depend on the fiscal health of the state, which is nowhere close to fixing its fiscal mess.

An Aug. 29 Butler Eagle editorial summed up the Mars situation, pointing out that the wage freeze was a “generous installment toward the district’s financial well-being for the short and longer term.”

But despite that generosity, and no matter how much board members and administrators loathe the thought, it’s possible that the professional staff will take a hit in the new budget year beginning July 1.

As an article in Wednesday’s Butler Eagle revealed, the district is considering eliminating one guidance counselor at the middle school and one at the Centennial School, although those cuts are not yet definite.

The school board and administration have until June 30 to identify other possible cuts, and some possibilities already have been put forth. As Wednesday’s article noted, the board is considering cuts to art, physical education and music, plus the release of two technology professionals.

Still, the district apparently has a long way to go to eliminate its 2012-13 budget problem and, despite their generosity for the current year, teachers might have to also sacrifice in their new contract.

But because of the teachers’ generous gesture for the current fiscal year, the district should strive to spare the teachers from deep sacrifice — although even that should be balanced with the best interests of taxpayers.

While teachers consistently received generous raises in the years leading up to 2011-12, many district taxpayers have endured much more serious financial challenges than the teachers’ one-year freeeze represents.

With that in mind, the Mars Area Education Association must be reasonable in what it hopes to accomplish under a new contract.

Among the points teachers must keep in mind is the state General Assembly’s 2001 action that increased their pension benefits by 25 percent. Paying for those pensions already is affecting district property owners and the district’s budget and will continue to do so. That 2001 pension boost is part of the reason why the district has a projected $2.5 million 2012-13 deficit rather than a much smaller figure.

Personnel cuts do affect students, just as cuts in programs decrease their educational opportunities. Thus, Mars school board members, administrators and teachers face difficult decisions in the weeks ahead and, it must be acknowledged, there’s no guarantee that there won’t be similar problems in making ends meet next year.

The only consolation is that the district would now be facing a bigger problem if the teachers hadn’t made the right decision — from the standpoint of the 2011-12 budget — in August.

Time will tell whether they and other district officials make the right decisions for next year.