The Bethlehem Area School District Board has approved a budget for the school year 2013-2014. This budget includes a property tax increase that is higher than originally anticipated.

The property tax increase included in the new budget is now 2.7 percent. In previous versions of the budget, the suggested property tax increase was 2.1 percent.

This new property tax means that the tax bill for the average homeowner in Northampton County will jump to $84.27 while the average homeowner's property tax bill in Lehigh County will jump to $51.79.

During a preliminary vote session, which took place on June 17, Board Director William Burkhardt proposed to modify the previous budget and adopt the higher tax hike. The board, with a 5-4 vote, gave Burkhardt's proposal the green light.

According to Burkhardt, a 2.7 percent tax increase is necessary to fund school programs like kindergarten and Pre-K. Burkhardt also recommended that the board restore the seventh grade teaming program, which gives additional support to students who need it in certain academic areas. Some of the additional money that is to come from the property tax increase will also go to cover the seventh grade teaming initiative.

Board Director Aurea Ortiz said she was pleased with the board's decision. Ortiz said in the past she would support tax increases as long as some of the money is allocated for early childhood education.

"We did justice," Ortiz said after the board's vote.

Board Director Irene Follweiler was one of the four naysayers.

"We cannot continue raising taxes," Follweiler said. She admonished the board for missing opportunities to raise revenue elsewhere and for continuing to put financial burdens on taxpayers.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Roy wasn't too enthusiastic either of the amendment and of adding academic programs which call for the hiring of more personnel. Roy said that adding more staff outpaces revenue growth and makes structural deficits even worse.

With more programs-and the need for more personnel-comes a bigger budget. Now the expenditure plan for the new school year is $225.2 million. A month ago, that figure was $224.3 million. The budget deficit is now bigger as well jumping to $3.8 million.

BASD is set to receive some property tax reduction funds beginning July 1. The expected funds come from state gambling taxes and are to be received from the Pa. Department of Education. These reimbursements mean property tax reduction