JEFFERSON TWP — The South Butler School Board voted to keep any property tax increase below the state-mandated maximum of 2.8 mills for the 2016-2017 school year.

The board voted on Wednesday night to keep any tax increase at 3 percent of its 93.27 tax rate — or just slightly less than 2.8 mills, said Paul Slomer, director of business affairs.

A mill generates $1 of tax revenue for each $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

Had the school board wished to exceed that maximum, the district would have had to apply for an exception from the state. School districts are required to make a decision in January regarding any tax increase.

The district has never tried to raise taxes above the state-mandated index, according to board President Nelda Burd.

Burd said the district has not raised taxes in the past three years, but it is uncertain whether the district will need to increase taxes this year, given the state budget impasse has decreased funding security.

“We’ve been working really hard to try to hold the line (on taxes), but a lot of things are uncertain right now,” she said.

The district will look at any tax increases later this year when preparing the 2016-2017 budget, Burd said.