BUTLER TWP — All nonteaching staff with Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School will see a small pay increase starting next year.

The school’s joint operating committee voted Thursday evening, May 7, to increase all nonteaching staff wages by a flat 3.5%. The pay increase affects all nonteaching staff, including administration, and goes in effect starting July 1.

Two members of the committee voted against the increase. Justin Kovach and David McRandal, of Knoch School District. Kovach said he believes the increase is just slightly too high for the district to comfortably pay toward.

He said, “3.5% is not much, but it’s just a smidge high for what Knoch can do right now. We’re at a $700,000 budget deficit and that’s not something we take lightly.”

Kovach also noted he believes it’s generally bad practice to do a flat increase to all wages, rather than use it as an incentive for employees based on their performance.