On Monday, the Butler Area School Board approved the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School's proposed budget that includes a $1.8 million contribution from the school district.

The vo-tech's proposed $6.1 million budget for the 2021-22 school year reflects a $122,810 increase over the current budget and includes a $30,000 reserve, said Regina Hiler, vo-tech executive director.

All seven school districts in the county send students to the vo-tech and contribute to its operating budget.

Butler Area's payment would increase to $1,898,934 because of an increase in the number of district students who attend the vo-tech, Hiler said. The district paid the vo-tech $1,826,574 this year. The district's payment is higher than the other districts in the county.

The vo-tech's proposed operating budget is $6,105,289, including the reserve.

In an update on the school district's budget preparation, Butler Area School District Superintendent Brian White said the district can't raise taxes next year after providing the board with troubling comparisons in countywide employment from before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said there were 11,000 fewer people employed in Butler County in the second quarter of 2020 than there were in the second quarter of 2019, and employee compensation dropped by a total of $65 million. Those numbers reflect a 5.76% decline in the number of people employed and 12.89% reduction in jobs, he said

The district can't raise taxes for people unable to pay their bills, White said.

Real estate tax revenue is projected to decrease to $41.1 million from $42 million, and total tax revenue is expected to decrease to $50.2 million from $51.5 million, he said.

In unrelated business, White said the teacher and employee coronavirus vaccinations haven't resulted in staffing shortages.

The vaccination process is proceeding after some scheduling confusion over the weekend was remedied, he said. He said the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV is scheduling vaccinations, but employees can also schedule their own vaccinations at pharmacies.