The Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School Joint Operating Committee agreed Thursday to forward the proposed $6.1 million budget for 2021-22 to the seven county school districts for consideration.

The proposed operating budget of $6,075,289 reflects a $122,810 increase over the current budget. With the addition of a $30,000 budget reserve, the total budget is $6,105,289.

The budget payments requested from the seven districts in the proposed budget totals $4,475,340, a $109,369 increase over this year. Seven county school districts send students to the vo-tech. Three districts are being asked to pay more than last year due to an increase in the number of students from those districts attending the vo-tech.

The Butler Area School District's payment would increase from $1,826,574 to $1,898,934; Karns City Area School District's payment would increase from $481,447 to $520,434; and South Butler County School District's payments would increase from $518,206 to $564,259.

The Seneca Valley School District's payment would decrease from $621,854 to $613,366; Slippery Rock Area School District's payment would decrease from $446,983 to $$437,040; Mars Area School District's payment would decrease from $243,854 to $220,561; and the Moniteau School District's payment will decrease from $227,053 to $220,746.

The balance of the vo-tech's revenue comes from state and federal funding.

Spending for education programs is $3.42 million, a $94,692 increase over this year.