JEFFERSON TWP — As the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School aimed to keep costs low, school boards like Knoch School District’s have shown less opposition to its proposed 2026-27 budget than the current one.

Knoch’s school board voted unanimously at a meeting Wednesday, Feb. 11, to approve the vo-tech budget for the upcoming year. The decision represents a stark contrast from the board’s 5-2 vote to reject the 2025-26 budget last year.

The budget for the ongoing year faced harsh criticism from Knoch and Seneca Valley school districts after the total operating budget increased over 7.5%. This year, however, the increase is currently set to 3% — from $7,253,631 to $7,471,155.

Executive director Regina Hiler presented the budget to the board prior to the vote, where she was able to provide context behind any of the school’s budgeting decisions.

Justin Kovach, a member of both the district school board and the vo-tech joint operating committee, commented he was much happier with the outcome of the budget this year. He said his concerns were “minor” compared to last year’s budget.

“If you ask 10 people to draft a budget, they do it 10 different ways,” he said.

Donna Eakin, the board’s president who also served as an alternate during the vo-tech’s own budget presentation, said she still had concerns about costs related to health care and noncontracted employees but ultimately voted in favor of the budget as well.

“All I would ask is that you be more conscious of what raises are within your districts. Not everyone can give 3.5% and it’s our taxpayers covering those rates,” she told Hiler at the meeting.