BUTLER TWP — Butler School Board members approved a $98.3 million budget for the 2014-15 school year with a 1-mill increase in a tight 5-4 vote at Monday night’s meeting, bringing Butler School District taxes up to 94.8 mills.

The current budget, which expires July 1, is $94 million and had a 2-mill increase.

Members Carmen Bianco, John Conrad, David Korn, Don Pringle and Al Vavro voted for the millage increase in the new budget, while members Karen Callihan, Neil Convery, Bill Halle and Jim Keffalas voted against it.

They each discussed their rationales behind the way they voted during a finance committee meeting held before the regular meeting.

Conrad compared it to choosing the size of a hole the district will have to dig its self out of down the road.

“No matter what we choose, we’re jumping into a hole,” he said.

He suggested to raise taxes by 2 mills, to make the hole smaller.

On the other hand, Halle said it’s time for the district to balance the budget and make the proper cuts without further burdening taxpayers.

Superintendent Mike Strutt said while Halle’s suggestion could make sense in the interim, it doesn’t make much sense for long-term plans.

“There is money in the fund balance to mitigate that, but for how long?” he said. “I agree with you in a sense, but I disagree with you in the long run.”

While some members raised concerns about the quality of the school district and a lower quality attracting fewer residents, Keffalas, who works in real estate, said raising taxes will also drive away residents.

He said most people look for a home in a place that has low taxes. The quality of a school district is secondary to that.

And because of the variables within the state budget, Business Manager Cathy Rodgers said the board approved a budget as if they would receive level funding, a worst-case scenario. Level state funding with a 1 mill increase in taxes leaves $1.9 million for the district to pay through their fund balance.

The 1-mill increase brings in about $400,000 for the district.