SLIPPERY ROCK ― Slippery Rock Area School board unanimously passed moving forward with the preliminary budget via roll call vote Monday evening, May 19, but passage will require an increase to real estate taxes.

Projected expenditures for the 2026-27 school year came out to $40,541,989. Revenue without a millage increase would total an estimated $40,107,810, leaving a deficit of $434,180.

To help make up the shortfall, the district plans to increase the real estate tax millage rate by 4.76 mills, from 110.75 to 115.51 mills. The increase is expected to raise about $622,642, more than covering the deficit.

One mill is equal to a $1 tax for every $1,000 of a property’s value, the revenue from real estate taxes will make up about $15,700,712 of the revenue for the year.

The earned income tax rate and the real estate transfer tax rate will both remain at 0.5%.

Board member Vito Pilosi noted the budget and accompanying tax increase can still be adjusted. The final budget will not be passed until June.

“This is a preliminary budget, so this just sets the bar. We can’t go above it.” Pilosi said.

The final budget is scheduled to be voted on at the board’s June 22 meeting.