JEFFERSON TWP — There will be no tax increase in the South Butler County School District's preliminary 2019-20 budget, but there won't be a decrease either.

Board member Matt Cimbala made a motion at Wednesday's board meeting to approve a preliminary budget with a 2 mill decrease for the next school year.

Cimbala, who is on the finance committee, said the district is saving through a decrease in health care costs and he wanted to thank the taxpayers for their continued support of the district by gifting them with decreased taxes.

“In my view that's money we don't have to spend, so we shouldn't keep it from the taxpayers,” Cimbala said.

A 2 mill decrease in the property tax rate would amount to $345,000 less for the district. That would equate to about $42 per year in savings for a home worth $200,000.

Rebecca Boyd seconded the motion, which was followed by a spirited discussion on the unusual millage move.

But board member George Zacherl scoffed at the notion.

He said a feasibility study that was presented to the board on Tuesday night showed that the district's buildings are in disrepair and will require extensive upgrades, renovation and construction in the near future.

“I think this is nothing more than a political stunt in an election year to reduce taxes when we're not looking forward to (rehabilitating) buildings,” Zacherl said.

Cimbala responded that the renovations are not included in the 2019-20 budget, which is the budget year the board should be focusing on.

Zacherl replied that the district's heating and air conditioning systems, roofs and other systems have outlived their expected life spans, and the district should be saving for the time when they need to be repaired or replaced.

“I completely disagree with this,” Zacherl said.

Boyd said a district bond will expire in 2021, just in time for another bond to cover the renovations.

She said the building improvement projects are in the infancy stages and much planning must be carried out before any projects begin.

Boyd said the board will not build a new high school or dedicated school board meeting room, which would be expensive options.

“Any capital improvements from this study are not going to happen in the next 12 months,” she said.

Board member Jill McDonald initially agreed with the tax decrease.

“We had an unexpected windfall from health care so we should thank the taxpayers of our district by reducing our millage,” she said.

Board member Linda Rieck cited the parents who have implored the board to buy metal detectors for at least some of the schools.

“I think this money should be used for the No. 1 reason I'm on this board: the safety of this school district,” Rieck said.

She worried that a decrease this year might only necessitate a bigger increase next year.

Board member Debra Miller said she joined the school board to support education, school safety and fiscal responsibility.

She pointed out that a decrease in the tax rate might fly in the face of the Knoch Knights Legacies Foundation.

“What does that say to the Legacies Foundation when we give money away and they're constantly raising money?” she said.

The subsequent vote on the 2 mill decrease saw Zacherl, Miller, Rieck and Jackie Pfeiffer vote no, while Cimbala, Boyd, Donna Eakin and McDonald voted in favor. Board member Bob Goodlin was absent.

District solicitor Tom Breth explained that in the 4-4 tie, the motion fails because the motion did not get a majority vote.

He asked the board if anyone wanted to make another motion.

A motion was then made to approve a preliminary budget with no tax increase.

That vote passed 5-3, with Cimbala, Boyd and Eakin voting no.

The budget will be available for public view for 30 days. The board must approve a final budget by June 30.