BELLWOOD — Members of the Bellwood-Antis School Board unanimously approved their balanced budget Tuesday night, including a 2.99% tax increase for the 2026-27 school year.

The tax increase will raise the district’s millage rate to 12.0589, totaling about $12.06 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

According to business manager Greg Gates, the district’s revenue total $22,902,031, and its expenditures total $22,886,588, resulting in a $15,443 surplus.

Although the preliminary budget approved at the May meeting featured a $61 surplus, Gates said the district recently received final figures, resulting in a larger surplus.

It’s Bellwood-Antis’ first surplus budget in a decade, Superintendent Edward G. DiSabato said following the meeting.

In other news, the board unanimously approved to commit about $216,500 to their committed general fund balance for future district projects.

Projects include $90,000 for elementary curriculum/technology, $25,000 for future track replacement, $25,000 for future stadium light replacement, $60,000 for parking lot blacktop reseal/recoat, $15,000 for the phone system and $1,500 for the intercom system.

Gates said after the meeting that the district aims to put a portion of funds away each year, according to that item’s lifespan. He explained how the board will take a $150,000 blacktop project and divide the cost by 15 years, resulting in the district annually allotting about $10,000.

“What we’re trying to do is put the money back now for projects we know that will come due,” DiSabato said after the meeting, adding that those projects will begin sometime in the future.

As the board isn’t relying on additional state funding this year, Gates said during the meeting that it feels good to begin replenishing their fund balance.

Facing a balanced budget, DiSabato thanked the board and administration for collaborating on their financial feat, stating that it was a multi-year approach that took a lot of hard work and decision-making.

“We’ve done a real good job to set the district up and move forward,” he said. “So, we’re excited about it.”

All board members except Shannon McCaulley and Jeff Plummer were present at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.