The Butler Area School District has one-time revenue to cover a deficit of nearly $600,000 projected in the 2021-22 budget, according to district officials.

Preliminary budget numbers show the district is anticipating $102.65 million in revenue from local taxes and the state and federal allocations, and $103.25 million in expenditures, leaving a deficit of $598,964, according to a presentation from business director Heather Bonzo at Monday's school board meeting.

Commercial property assessment appeals have reduced the total assessed value of property in the district from $445.94 million in 2019-20 to $444.13 million this year and to $443.51 million in 2021-22. The impact was a $188,565 reduction in real estate tax revenue this year and a $63,972 reduction projected for 2021-22.

The preliminary budget figures for 2021-22 project revenue from local sources, including real estate taxes at $53.23 million, which is about 2% more than this year and similar to 2019-20.

This year's real estate tax revenue was budgeted at 2% less than 2019-20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bonzo said.

Based on this year's tax collection, the district felt comfortable budgeting real estate collections back up at the average collection rate for 2021-22. Earned income and local service taxes were budgeted following the same pattern, she said.

The district has $1.48 million available in one-time revenue to cover the deficit.

In other business, Monday, the board awarded a $29,999 contract to Image 360 of Pittsburgh for directional signs at the high school.