ADAMS TWP — Property owners in the Mars School District will not have a tax increase for the ninth consecutive year.

The school board on Tuesday approved a $45.8 million 2016-17 district budget that once again holds the line on taxes.

Because the district budgets within its means, board President Dayle Ferguson said a tax increase was avoided despite rising costs, escalating pension contributions and unfunded mandates from the state and federal government.

She also lambasted state officials in Harrisburg, saying the “messy and dysfunctional state budget stalemate” made it difficult to create a district budget without knowing what, if any, funding would arrive from the state.

“It is beyond frustrating being backed into a fiscal corner because our state officials, including our governor, are playing financial chicken with our students,” Ferguson said.

The preliminary district budget passed in May included the furlough of three teachers, but those teachers were retained by being reassigned to other positions.

Shipley said $41 million of the budget will be spent on fixed costs such as salaries, benefits, transportation and special education, and the other $4.8 million is earmarked for other operations.

District business manager Jill Swaney said an expected $2 million fund balance will cover an approximate $1.3 million budget deficit.