Catasauqua Area School District Board of Education unanimously approved the proposed 2021-22 budget at the May 11 meeting.

The overall budget is $37,464,335, with expenditures and revenues balanced and no tax increase.

Since CASD sits in two counties, there is a rebalancing that must occur between Lehigh and Northampton counties when it comes to the tax rate. Due to this balancing, Lehigh County residents will have no tax increase, and Northampton County residents will see a small tax decrease.

According to Superintendent of Schools Robert Spengler, there was a 10.6-percent increase in overall revenue, due in part to low projections from the prior year and relief funds.

The budget includes the regular cost of doing business, such as contractual obligations, charter school tuition and more. Spengler noted the annual taxpayer expense for charter school tuition is $2,729,500. That is a $744,000 increase.

“These costs are tremendous,” Spengler said. “This, at some point, is unsustainable for school districts.”

Personnel items in the budget include replacing retirees, adding virtual teachers and class size reduction roles, job and academic coaches, an additional school resource officer and four mental/behavioral health professionals.

Other larger projects include the Alumni Field stadium project, fleet replacement plan purchases, technology upgrades and other capital projects.

Many capital purchases, such as several vehicles and accessories, blinds at Catasauqua High School and carpeting at Catasauqua Middle School, will be purchased from the one-time debt service savings the district received after refinancing some bonds.

The budget also includes one-time major purchases that reduce future cost and increase efficiency, utilizing $3,226,411 in relief funds. These include behavioral/mental health programming, virtual instruction, academic coaches to address learning loss, textbooks, building substitutes, technology updates such as an ungraded infrastructure and iPads, capital projects at the schools such as HVAC and electrical work, cleaning equipment and more.

“The budget numbers are based on what we know now,” Spengler said. “We certainly feel good about things now.”

The board intends to adopt the final budget June 10.

Spengler made sure to recognize the leadership team within the district for their efforts in identifying the needs for the 2021-22 school year. He noted planning is already underway with vehicles being purchased and staff being hired. He reported this planning will allow them to be as prepared as possible for the new year.

The school board next meets 7 p.m. June 10. Note: This is a Thursday, a departure from the board’s normal Tuesday meeting day.