One year ago the Butler School Board resolved not to raise the property tax rate by more than 3.3 percent for the 2017-18 school year, keeping any anticipated tax increase below a threshold set by the state Department of Education.

That vote was 6-3. The board members who opposed it said they didn’t want to remove the option of a higher tax.

This January the board took the same action, but with one notable difference. This time, the vote was unanimous — none of them hesitated to remove the option of raising the tax above the state limit.

It’s an encouraging signal of a change in tone taking place under the leadership of superintendent Brian White.

The tone appropriately is, and should be, a dedication to making best use of limited resources; to finding innovative ways to increase efficiency, effectiveness and accountability.

White and his acting director of business services, Nick Morelli, said this week they will present preliminary budget options in February. The options, White said, will show how the district can balance its budget with or without tax increases.

Tough choices lie ahead, White cautioned. But the district needs to start living within its means. For several years the board has drawn cash from a reserve fund, which is dwindling.

The current 2017-18 budget has $104.23 million in spending — about the same as the previous year. It took every bit of the state-allowed tax increase plus $1.38 million in cash reserves. Three dozen positions were furloughed and the cafeteria staff was converted to a contracted service.

Add to that the tumult that stirred up the district’s affairs last year, starting and culminating with the Summit Elementary water crisis that led to administrative turnover and the ushering in of White’s administration.

It would seem unrealistic to reverse all of the damage in one budget year, but White and the board appear to be returning the district to a proper course. They are considering the option of a zero-tax-increase budget for 2018-19.

A zero-tax-hike, balanced budget might be out of reach in 2018-19, but the possibility bears discussion anyway. If nothing else, it stimulates other avenues toward peak efficiencies, effectiveness and accountability.

Abandoning an attitude of frugality six months ahead of the deadline is last year’s strategy — and in the Butler School District, the past is where such attitudes should remain.