JEFFERSON TWP — Those who pay taxes to South Butler School District will not have to pay any more than they did last year, despite the district's rising expenditures budget.

The South Butler School Board Wednesday night approved the final budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which runs from July 1 through June 30, 2018.

The expenditures budget is $37.2 million, about $1.5 million more than the $35.7 million in estimated revenues. The difference of $1.5 million will come from the district's fund balance, which is $7.7 million.

However, the property tax millage will stay at 94.275 mills. A mill generates $1 in tax income for each $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

School district employee salaries and benefits make up a combined 68 percent of the expenditures. Budgeted for salaries is $15.1 million, while benefits are budgeted at $10.1 million.

However, the teachers' union and school board have not reached an agreement for their latest contract, which if put into place will expire in 2020. The last contract expired in 2014.

This means that the money budgeted for salaries and benefits is based on the school board's proposal to the teachers' union. District superintendent David Zupsic called the money budgeted a “placeholder.”

“We understand it will probably change, but we have to use something,” he said.