When: Octorara Area School District board meeting, June 17.

What happened: The board approved the final 2024-25 budget of $63.57 million with no increase in taxes.

Background: This budget is unchanged from the prior updated version. Although the school district is not levying a tax increase, there is an annual rebalancing of taxes between Lancaster and Chester counties, which leads to changes in individual tax bills.

The cost: For Lancaster County property owners, the new tax rate will be 25.63 mills, down slightly from the current rate of 26.47 mills. In Chester County, the rate will be 42.54 mills, up slightly from the current tax rate of 42.280 mills.

Public/nonpublic school funding: The board tabled action on a resolution in support of constitutional funding of public schools and opposed to public funding of nonpublic schools

Background: The board discussed this item in May but not at the June 10 board meeting where agenda items for the June 17 were listed and discussed. The resolution was added to the agenda on June 13. Vice President Jay Lusby stated that people have asked him about this item and because it was not on the original agenda, he told them they were not going to address it.

More: Lusby said he wishes to discuss the resolution and provide time for public comment.

Quotable: “I think it’s virtually impossible to be a true advocate of public education and not be in agreement of that resolution,” school board member Brian Norris said during the board comment period near the close of the meeting.

What’s next: President Matthew Hurley apologized for the omission of this item from the last meeting. It will be added to a future agenda.

Personnel: The board approved the hiring of Audrey Flojo Colletti as assistant superintendent at a salary of $143,000 and Dennis Perry as Octorara Middle School principal at a salary of $140,00.