BUTLER TWP — The Butler Area School District school board approved the budget for the 2022-2023 school year, which has an estimated operating cost of $106,529,313.

Local sources make up a majority of the district’s funding, with an estimated $53.3 million coming from within Butler County. The school district is also getting $49.2 million in state funding, and about $4 million in federal funding.

Heather Bonzo, district director of finance and operations, said at the school board’s May 16 meeting that the biggest increases to the budget are inflation-related, including the increase in property values leading to higher property insurance costs. The cost of cyber insurance has also risen, she said.

The biggest expense listed on the budget is salaries at $44.3 million, followed by employee benefits at $30.1 million, then “other purchased services” at $15.7 million.

“Other financing uses” makes up $7.3 million in expenditures, purchased professionals and tech services makes up $3.9 million, supplies accounts for $3.2 million, fund transfers account for about $800,000, purchased property services makes up about $590,000 and equipment and other objects are estimated to cost about $450,000.

The 2021-2022 school year budget was about $105.9 million, so the new budget is an increase of less than $1 million.

District superintendent Brian White said there is consideration of reducing the student transportation requirement for out-of-district students in state budget talks, which could impact the district’s spending in the coming year.

White presented the budget at the last school board meeting for preliminary approval, and on Monday it received final board approval.

“This was as presented, no funding changes,” White said.

Board President Al Vavro emphasized that the budget does not include a millage increase.