TYRONE — After a month of reviewing the 2025-26 preliminary budget, the Tyrone Area School Board unanimously voted Tuesday to adopt the final budget with a tax increase.

The final deficit is also $219,811 less than what was projected in earlier budget discussions.

Business administrator Faith Swanson said the district’s technology bids came in lower than expected, which is why that budget was slashed about $100,000. Some of the district’s new staff was replaced with new staff, which allowed for attritional savings, Swanson said, adding district officials also cut about $25,000 out of the curriculum budget to save costs.

The final budget that was approved includes a 5.6% tax millage increase to the Act 1 Index, which will generate about $382,073 in additional real estate tax revenue, according to Swanson.

The district faces an overall budget deficit of $1,587,554 under the approved general fund budget, which has revenues set at $29,405,092 and expenditures totaling $30,992,646 — down $236,004 from the preliminary budget that was approved in May.

The district’s beginning general fund balance for July 1 is projected to be $9,832,527, which will be used to cover the deficit, Swanson said.

Since Tyrone Area is a multi-county district, tax levies in Blair, Centre and Huntingdon counties are different, according to Swanson.

In Blair County, the tax millage rate is now set at 8.18 mills,, which represents a $0.43 increase per every $1,000 in a real estate property’s assessed value.

In Centre County, the tax millage rate is now set at 31.16 mills, which represents a $2.14 increase for every $1,000 in a property’s assessed value.

In Huntingdon County, the tax millage rate is now set at 54.39 mills, which represents a $2.78 increase for every $1,000 in a property’s assessed value.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved Darin Ricciotti as the district’s new high school principal. Ricciotti will start in the role July 1 at a salary of $89,000.

Outgoing Principal Chad Packer said he is leaving Tyrone Area to start a new role as the Bald Eagle Area School District’s director of secondary education during the 2025-26 school year.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.