BUTLER TWP — The average property owner in the Butler School District will pay $35 more in property taxes for the coming fiscal year, pushing the average bill from $1,613 to $1,648.

The school board on Monday adopted the 2013-14 district budget of $94 million that includes a 2-mill tax hike, increasing the rate to 93.8 mills.

Roughly $800,000 will be generated from the 2-mill increase.

The budget passed in a 6 to 3 vote with board members Don Pringle, Carmen Bianco, John Conrad, Paul Opalka, Linda Patten and Helene Abramowitz voting yes.

Pringle, board president, said the tax hike was necessary due to a variety of factors, including state cuts and inflationary increases.

He pointed out the district previously pruned the budget to reach this level.

“The administration cut over $2 million,” Pringle said.

Conrad blamed the need for a tax hike squarely on Gov. Tom Corbett, saying the governor reduced state expenses by cutting education funding for local schools.

Board members Bill Halle, Karen Callihan and James Keffalas opposed the budget.

Halle said the district needs to make hard choices to reduce the need for a tax hike.

“We can’t continue to increase taxes,” he said.