The Parkland School Board granted preliminary approval to the $166.3 million, 2016-17 budget.

The final vote, with possible adjustments, was expected to be taken at the June 28 meeting.

The spending plan, given preliminary approval, calls for a 3.76-percent tax increase with the rate increasing from 14.35 mills in the current term to 14.89 mills for the forthcoming school year.

Owners of a home assessed at $100,000 will have an increase of $54 in their school property tax bill.

For the $224,950 median assessed house in the district, the increase will be $121.48.

Expenditures for the new term are projected to increase 5.44 percent, pushed upward by the proposed implementation of full-day kindergarten which will require 12 additional teachers, two special education professionals, furniture, supplies and modular classroom units.

The projected $2.7 million for full-day kindergarten impacts the budget, along with Parkland’s $3 million obligation to cover tuition for district residents attending charter and cyber schools.

Superintendent Richard Sniscak noted other challenges influencing the budget include the rising cost of special education, increasing contributions to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System, and uncertainty regarding commonwealth funding.

After a full day seminar in May, district officials still had a $1.1 million deficit to make up between expenditures and revenue.

Administrators were able to make adjustments in staffing, equipment, and budgetary reserves to bring down costs.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rod Troutman devised a plan to stagger the shifts of kindergarten aides to cover playground duty to limit additional expenses for salaries and benefits.

Instead of converting a part-time English as a Second Language teacher to full-time, Troutman found a part-time person with ESL credentials to take on the case load, thereby saving $33,349 in benefits which would have gone to the full-time individual.

Business Manager John Vignone was able to adjust revenue projections by taking another look at the increased value of a mill, the real estate transfer tax, and commonwealth funding.

With the combined revenue and expenditure adjustments, and a $6 million appropriation from the fund balance, Parkland will have a balanced budget.

The superintendent noted the Parkland millage rate remains the lowest among all Lehigh County school districts.

Sniscak offered comments on the budget which has been under consideration since last fall.

“Parkland School District’s 2016-17 financial plan provides for the most essential educational needs of our students while respectfully considering the ability of the taxpaying public to support a high quality, comprehensive educational program,” he said.

Board President David Kennedy added his thoughts on the matter.

“It’s never easy to have a tax increase, but the great education Parkland provides is not cheap,” said Kennedy.

The vote to approve the budget was 8-0 with board member Barry Long absent.