BUTLER TWP — Following a ballot count at the Joint Operating Committee meeting Thursday night, the Butler County Vocational Technical School budget for next school year has been approved.

Fifty-two school board members in the county voted to approve the school’s $4.6 million budget, three voted against it and, eight members did not submit a ballot.

The vo-tech’s $4.6 million budget is a 3.9 percent increase from this school year because of factors such as a new staff member being added and health insurance costs going up.

For the new budget to be approved, at least two-thirds of the seven county school boards must approve the budget, and a majority of school board members must approve via individual ballot.

The South Butler School Board was the only board to vote against the budget.