The Whitehall-Coplay School Board on Monday night approved the adoption of the proposed final general fund budget for the 2015-16 school year that will raise taxes for residents of the district.

According to a document given to The Press by district Business Manager Michael Malay, the proposed final budget includes a 2.91-percent increase to real estate taxes. The real estate tax rate for the budget is 15.8673 mills; it had been 15.4186 mills.

The total budget is $61,933,742, which is a 3.59-percent increase from last year's budget. The budgeted local revenue increased by 1.47 percent, the budgeted state revenue increased by 4.31 percent, and the budgeted federal revenue increased by 2.99 percent.

The proposed budget balances revenues with projected expenditures, utilizing fund balance, and is currently $553,013 under the Act 1 maximum tax limit. The budget will be advertised and publicly displayed. Its final adoption will take place no later than June 30.

Seven members of the board voted in favor of the proposed budget. Board member Robert Kolb was absent, and Owen Eberhart Jr. voted against the adoption.

"This is the 10th or 11th year we've had a tax increase," Eberhart said. "I can't continue to increase taxes."

In other matters, the board approved the joint fuel bid request with Parkland School District for the 2015-16 year. The award will be based on the lowest bidder meeting the specifications, which include costs for transportation and delivery of fuel.

The board unanimously elected Arthur Taschler Jr. as the treasurer for the term of July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016.