With all seven school districts signaling support for the Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School’s fiscal 2026-27 budget, only one hurdle remains for final approval.

Seneca Valley and Slippery Rock Area’s school boards each voted at their meetings Monday evening, March 9, to approve the vo-tech’s presented budget for the 2026-27 school year. The two boards were the last of seven districts to vote — and approve — the budget.

The approval by all participating schools stands in contrast to last year’s budget process. The current budget met criticism from some school boards due to concerns over fiscal responsibility and operational efficiency, especially in the long term. It passed with five of the seven districts’ approval.

Regina Hiler, executive director of the school, said Thursday she had received formal notification from six schools thus far, noting that “it can take a week or two to get the formal notification from the district.”

The vo-tech’s budget process is twofold, however. After five boards approve it, the budget still requires approval by a majority of all individual school board members through an anonymous ballot.

Those ballots are set to be open at the vo-tech joint operating committee’s next meeting April 2.