TYRONE — During Tuesday’s voting session meeting, the Tyrone Area School Board unanimously voted to approve the district’s proposed 2026-27 general fund budget with a 4.9% tax millage increase.

With the proposed tax increase, the district’s deficit is $740,646, with expenditures in the budget set at about $31.9 million, according to business manager Faith Swanson.

The shortfall will be covered by the district’s general fund balance, which was about $9.4 million as of July 1, Swanson said while presenting the budget during last week’s work session meeting.

The new ending balance for June 30, 2027, is estimated to be roughly $8.7 million, she said.

Because Tyrone Area is a multi-county district, tax levies in Blair, Centre and Huntingdon counties are different based on a property with a $100,000 assessed value, Swanson said.

According to Swanson’s budget presentation last week, the tax millage rate in Blair County would increase from 8.18 mills to 8.27 mills, representing a $7.72 change over the 2025-26 budget. Tax on a $100,000 property would be $709.57, while those who qualify for the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion would pay about $431.76.

In Centre County, the tax millage rate would increase from 31.16 mills to 31.83 mills, representing a $2.13 change over the 2025-26 budget. Tax on a $100,000 property would be $544.29 without the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion and about $266.48 for those who qualify for the exclusion.

In Huntingdon County, the only county to reach the full Act I Index this year, the tax millage rate would increase from 54.39 mills to 62.15 mills, representing a $36.41 change over the 2025-26 budget. Tax on a $100,000 property would be $781.85, while those who qualify for the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion would pay about $504.04.

The preliminary budget will be advertised and remain on public display for 20 days prior to the final budget being adopted at the June 9 board meeting. The district’s administrative offices are located in a suite at 701 Clay Ave., Tyrone. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

In other business, the board reappointed Cathy Harlow to serve as its treasurer, covering the period of July 1 through June 30, 2027.

The board then took a consent vote to approve all other remaining agenda items, which included a resolution approving a $443,900 proposal from Combustion Service and Equipment Co. for the district’s boiler replacement project at the elementary school.

The pricing is through Co-Stars purchasing and also includes the demolition and removal of the existing boilers, according to the meeting’s agenda.

The board then entered into an executive session to discuss negotiations and personnel, board President Rose Black said.

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