BUFFALO TWP — Freeport Area School District proposed a budget for the 2026-27 school year that would see taxes go up for district residents in Butler County.

The district’s school board voted unanimously to approve the preliminary $41.56 million budget at a special meeting Wednesday evening, May 6. The preliminary budget will be on display until the June 10 board meeting, where a vote for final approval will take place.

Under the approved preliminary budget, expenditures total $40.76 million, leaving the district with just over $800,000 of surplus.

The millage rates are anticipated to rise to 191.50 mills for Butler County residents from 185.91. Meanwhile, Armstrong County residents could see their millage rates go down by almost 4 mills, to 61.43.

Brad Walker, Freeport’s director of finance and operations, previously said the millage rates are being rebalanced between the two counties. The current projected budget also accounts for a 1% increase to local revenue.

A mill is equal to a $1 tax increase for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

For future school years, a continued 1% local revenue increase would eventually lead to a deficit, but the district could cushion it using its fund balance.

While some board members were concerned about rapidly rising costs and uncertainty with the state budget, they agreed that tax increases will have to be determined on a year-to-year basis.