No property tax hike in tentative budget

ADAMS TWP — For the eighth consecutive year, property owners in the Mars School District may not see a school property tax increase.

The school board Tuesday night approved a tentative 2015-16 budget for $45.2 million.

The property tax rate will remain at 99 mills if the budget is approved in June as expected.

The budget adds a teacher at the middle school and a technical support position.

It also replaces all retiring teachers, keeps all current programs and expands the district’s technology program, said business manager Jill Swaney.

Board President Dayle Ferguson said more than 70 percent of the proposed budget’s revenue comes from local taxes.

“Based on flat funding from the state, it’s unlikely clarity on the state budget will arrive anytime soon,” Ferguson said.

The current budget is $43.5 million.

OK given for BC3 space at Lenape

BUTLER TWP — Butler County Community College trustees Wednesday approved taking rental space at Lenape Technical School in Armstrong County to provide classes for three programs beginning this summer.

The new space will provide BC3 classes to students in Armstrong County for the first time since 2002. Class offerings are psychology, business administration and general studies.

The trustees also approved state funding applications for three ongoing projects at the college: Renovations at the BC3 @ Cranberry facility, renovations at the Children’s Creative Learning Center on the main campus, and at the Heaton Family Learning Commons on the main campus, the new library building.

The school had received $2.3 million from the state for the library project, covering half of the estimated costs. However, the college submitted an application to cover potential increased costs.

By submitting the paperwork, the state could provide $200,000 more if the project ends up costing $5.2 million.

Sexual trauma support offered

BUTLER TWP — VA Butler Healthcare’s Center for Behavioral Health offers a weekly women Veterans’ Military Sexual Trauma Support Group.

The group meets from 10 to 11 a.m. Fridays at VA Butler Healthcare. Women veterans must be prescreened before attending.

Topics discussed include: increasing a sense of safety, shame and guilt, learning to trust others, recognizing possibly unsafe situations, and the cyclical nature of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Military sexual trauma is the term VA uses to refer to sexual assault or repeated, threatening sexual harassment that occurred while a veteran was in the military.

The VA provides free, confidential counseling and treatment to veterans for mental and physical health conditions related to experiences of MST.