One Catasauqua Area School Board member is not convinced the 2014-15 budget is economically sound.

The board passed the budget 7-1 at its June 11 meeting.

Voting in opposition was board member Christine Naegel.

Board member Carol McCarthy was not present for the vote.

The budget includes a 1.6-mill increase for Northampton County residents. In the Catasauqua Area School District, this includes residents in North Catasauqua.

The millage rate for Lehigh County residents – those in Catasauqua Borough and Hanover Township – is 16.31, amounting to a 0-percent tax increase.

The budget balances revenues and expenditures at $26 million.

Naegel's concerns revolve around the one-to-one technology program Catasauqua High School will implement in the fall and also with salaries and benefits.

"I do believe it [budget] is going to raise taxes in future years," she said.

Board Vice President Carol Cunningham pointed out Naegel was not present for the meeting where the board voted on salaries.

Board member Donald Panto asked Naegel what she is in support of within the budget and what alternatives she would suggest.

"I believe there isn't necessarily an alternative," she said.

Panto emphasized the importance of presenting different ideas and approaches.

"It's easy to say I'm against something," he said. "What's difficult is to present a reasonable alternative."

One alternative Naegel said she does support is maintaining the district's current stock of technology rather than distributing MacBooks to every CHS student.

The one-to-one technology program will cost the district $600,000 over four years.

Penny Hahn, president of the board, told Naegel she would have benefited from the Catasauqua Middle School presentation on the implementation of technology in the classroom. Naegel was not present for that board meeting.

"It's unfortunate you missed it because you would have been inspired by it," Panto said. "I think that's concrete evidence it's working."

CMS is currently exploring the use of technology in the classroom.

District Superintendent Robert Spengler said another CMS teacher will present to the board in the near future on an experiences with using technology within the curriculum.