KARNS CITY — Karns City School District passed a preliminary budget during Monday's meeting that includes a property tax increase up to the index.

The preliminary budget passed with estimated revenue and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year of $24.5 million, representing a three percent increase from 2018-19 budget of $23.7 million.

Karns City Superintendent Eric Ritzert said that while the district did not increase taxes last year, the schools need work.

“We're looking at the renovation of the junior/senior high school and a small addition to the Chicora complex, with the likelihood of closing the Sugarcreek building in the future,” Ritzert said. “We wanted to look at raising some revenue for that upcoming project.”

The tax hike would add about $263,345 to the district's income, according to Deana Turner, the business director. Additional increases are expected to come from state funding.

Turner said if these plans continue, the average increase people will see on their property tax would be about $39, but because the district is divided between three counties, the breakdown would be: $53 for Butler County; $25 for Armstrong County; and $13 for Clarion County.

Ritzert said these plans are tentative until the school board reviews the results of a feasibility study at a meeting that will be open to the public, which should happen by the end of the month.

He said the study could offer multiple options, but he currently believes the likely result would be the closing of Sugarcreek Elementary School.

Ritzert said enrollment has declined, adding that consolidating the elementary schools would cut costs and increase efficiency.

While Ritzert said this is the probable solution, the board is open to discussing other options with the public.

“We'll go through seven or eight scenarios,” Ritzert said. “If people have new ideas or additional ideas, we're very receptive to that.”