JACKSON TWP — The Seneca Valley School Board on Monday night passed a proposed budget that calls for a 3.45 mill property tax rate increase.

The $115.4 million budget for the 2015-16 school year is $8 million more than this school year’s budget, which is $107.2 million with a 116.45-mill tax rate.

By law the school board must pass a final balanced budget by the end of June.

While the district anticipates spending more than $8 million more in the next budget compared to the current budget, at least $2.5 million of that is directly related to increased costs associated with the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System.

“We’re forced to do a lot of what we do because the state Legislature hasn’t fixed the pension problem,” board President Eric DiTullio said.

Increases to both employee payroll and health care costs are also responsible for the hike in spending.

Regardless, DiTullio said he is satisfied with the budget, which doesn’t contain any cuts to programs or faculty.

The numbers in the proposed budget could change if the district receives any additional special education funding from the state, but that won’t be known until the Legislature passes a budget.

If the board approves the same property tax rate as is contained in the proposed budget, the new rate will sit at 119.90 mills.

District officials said that for owners of a $207,750 home, which is the median home value in the district, an increase of $82 in taxes can be expected if a 3.45 mileage increase is passed.

One mill in the district is worth about $568,000.

The board is expected to vote on a final budget on June 15.