BUFFALO TWP — Taxes in the Freeport School District are going up.

The average township homeowner in the district will pay $60 more in school property taxes for the 2013-14 school year.

The school board Wednesday night adopted a $25.7 million budget that increases taxes for Buffalo residents as well as those in Freeport and South Buffalo, who will pay an average of $90 more next school year.

The new budget raises taxes districtwide by 3 mills. However, that increase is split into different numbers because the district straddles two counties.

A state formula based on property values determines how a tax hike is broken down. Butler County uses 1969 assessments while Armstrong County uses ones from 1996.

The new budget increases Buffalo Township taxes from 122.1 mills to 125.9 mills while taxes in Freeport and South Buffalo Township will rise from 52.7 mills to 55.2 mills.

Mark Shoaf, first vice president of the board, explained the tax hike funds the construction of a $30 million new middle school.

Dan Lucovich, board president, said after the meeting that operating costs for the district do not increase.

“We kept everything the same,” Lucovich said.