ADAMS TWP — The taxpayers in the Mars School District will not see a tax increase in the 2015-16 school year.

The school board at its Tuesday evening meeting voted to approve the $45.3 million budget for the next school year, which keeps the tax rate at 99 mills for the eighth consecutive year.

A mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

The new budget maintains all current programs, replaces all retiring teachers, and expands on the district’s technology program.

It also adds a teacher at the middle school and a technical support position.

Business manager Jill Swaney said the district is able to cover the increased costs without raising taxes because of a growing tax base generated by added housing developments.

“Once again, we have developed a responsible, sustainable balance between student achievement and fiscal responsibility that truly benefits the entire community,” said board President Dayle Ferguson. “As a proud result, we are academically respected, financially stable, and uniquely well-positioned to move our educational programs forward, unlike so many of our school district peers.”

The current budget is $43.5 million.

Also at the meeting, the board increased the cost of lunches by a dime and agreed that the high school would opt out of the national School Lunch program.

Elementary lunches next year will cost $2.70 and secondary lunches will cost $2.95.

At last week’s meeting, Swaney explained that The Nutrition Group, the district’s contracted food services provider, recommended Mars opt out for the high school.

Swaney said according to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kid Act, a school’s nutritional component requirements are met in meals, not a la carte items. She said the majority of the students at the high school choose a la carte items.

Swaney said if the district had to modify the a la carte items to meet the Act, participation would drop and cost the district a loss of $60,000.

“This Act is getting so restrictive on the components, it will require extreme modification to what (foods are) currently (served),” Swaney said.

She said opting out of the National School Lunch Program will release the school from the requirements of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kid Act.

Swaney reassured the board members that the free and reduced lunch program will continue at the high school.

She said at the high school, 21 students receive free lunches, and six reduced-cost lunches, out of about 1,000 students in grades nine through 12.

She predicted that students won’t even notice the change, and that a letter of explanation will go to the families of the students who receive free or reduced lunches.

The district will try the scheme for the 2015-16 school year.

“We can opt back in next year,” Swaney said.

Also at the meeting, Ferguson reminded the board and the public that the only school board meeting in July will be held at 7 p.m. on July 28.

She said the August board meeting dates are at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 and 18.