Mars School Board tentatively approved next year's budget Tuesday night.

Incorporating $1,874,952 from the district fund balance means the budget is expected to break even, with revenues and expenditures calculated at $55,073,050 each.

It also holds the line on the 101.376 millage rate approved last year.

“It's quite a remarkable feat,” said Kevin Hagen, school board member. “I'm very excited that we can present a budget that (has) zero tax increase.”

The budget benefits from federal funding made available through pandemic relief.

Hagen noted if it hadn't been for this funding, the district would likely have had to raise taxes.

Board member Megan Lenz said that's the “elephant in the room.”

“This budget has a lot of positives,” Lenz said. “(But) if we had not been given federal funds, we would have been unable to fund this budget this year.”

Budget revenues break down into three main categories: local, state and federal sources.

The district is expecting to see about $14,202,923 from the state government.

An additional $1,017,175 in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding — federal money distributed as pandemic-relief — is also calculated as revenue for next year.

An estimated $37,978,000 is expected to come from local sources. Of that, $28,300,000 should come from current real estate taxes.

These total $53,198,098. The $1,874,952 fund balance raises revenues to $55,073,050.

The biggest cost is expected to come from regular, special and vocational instruction, for a total of $32,136,316.

Support services are calculated to cost $15,149,550.

Non-instructional services and other expenses account for $7,787,184.

Lenz said going forward, one of the areas the district should be mindful of is costs associated with cyber charter school tuition.

The district saw a high number of students enroll in cyber charter school as a response to the pandemic. In Pennsylvania, districts are responsible for covering tuition associated with charter schools attended by students in the district.

District officials late last year estimated this tuition accounted for a 2020-21 budget deficit of roughly $1.5 million.

Lenz said she doesn't want to see the district in the same position in the future.

“I don't feel it's responsible to vote 'yes' to a budget that has no buffer for the unknown,” Lenz said.

Lenz said with the support staff and technology contracts still not finalized, she's cautious about locking in numbers for next year.

There's also the upcoming school board election to consider, according to Lenz. Four seats will be open, and only one board member is running for re-election.

“There's a lot of people voting on this budget who won't be here next year,” Lenz said. “Those of you who are running for these positions on this board, pay close attention: You're inheriting this.”

Christine Valenta asked the public to make use of the budget review period.

Valenta said while she thinks there's room for “some additional resources within the district,” she understands the educational challenges of this year.

Lenz voted not to approve the tentative budget, with the other eight board members voting in favor of it.

The board also voted Tuesday to reappoint Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham LLP as the district's solicitor for the 2021-22 year.

The group was reappointed at an hourly rate of $185 and a monthly retainer of $500.

Lenz voted against the motion. She said her decision was based on district financials and increased solicitor fees, not performance.

“They do a great job for us,” Lenz said. “(But) we asked our administration to take a pay decrease this year.”

The other eight members of the board approved the motion.

The budget is posted on the district website. It's expected to be adopted at the June 8 board meeting.