BUFFALO TWP — Township residents face the prospect of a nearly 2 percent property tax increase under one option for a 2017-18 Freeport School District budget.

Among the proposed options for the school board to consider is an overall 3.3 percent tax increase.

Due to the district straddling two counties, it uses a state formula to assess different rates to Buffalo and the two Armstrong County municipalities: Freeport and South Buffalo Township.

Employing that formula for a 3.3 percent hike amounts to a 1.9 percent increase for Buffalo but a 3.3 percent increase for Armstrong.

During a meeting Wednesday night, Dan Lucovich, school board president, said no tax hike would be levied lightly.

“It's always tough to raise taxes,” Lucovich said.

Even if the school board next week opts for a proposed final budget with no overall tax hike, the Armstrong taxpayers would still pay a 1.3 percent increase.

Under that scenario, Buffalo's rate would remain the same as this year.

The district has a third option of raising taxes up to 5 percent. That alternative breaks down to 5 percent for Buffalo and 6.5 percent for the other municipalities.

The district has that option due to approving a $31.7 million preliminary budget in February to secure state approval to exceed its mandated cap on tax hikes.

The preliminary budget included a 3.9 percent tax hike for Buffalo and a 4.9 percent increase for Freeport and South Buffalo.

The school board is not limited to those options, though. The district just cannot exceed the 5 percent overall increase.

Lucovich said in an interview if the board approves a budget with a tax hike, it would be less than the overall 3.3 percent.

“It's probably between the zero and 3.3 percent,” he said.

Lucovich said some board members likely favor no tax increase while others see the need for one.

“It's probably all over the board,” he said.

Following a presentation at a meeting next Wednesday in Freeport High School, the school board is set to vote on a proposed final budget.

Changes could still be made to the budget after that approval before a final adoption in June.