Board approves Butler County VOTEC 2026–27 budget; Mars’s share rises about $893

The Mars Area School District Board of Directors voted to approve the 2026–27 operating budget for the Butler County VOTEC career‑technical center after a presentation from Regina Heiler, VOTEC’s director.

Heiler told the board the proposed total operating budget is about $7.04 million, representing roughly a 3% increase from 2025–26. She said the budget includes a budgetary reserve intended to cover catastrophic events and is not a fund balance. Heiler also described line‑item changes: a net salary adjustment of $65,221, increases in employee benefits largely driven by changes in insurance participation, and a rise in contracted custodial services and property‑service contracts. He said VOTEC plans to add a second school police officer during the day and that equipment spending increased but was offset in part by recently secured grants (a $300,000 supplemental equipment grant and an $85,000 competitive equipment grant).

Heiler explained average daily membership (ADM) calculations and revenue sources (state subsidies, Perkins and adult‑education funds). She said Mars’s share of the subsidy increases by approximately 0.34%—an estimated $893—while the collective district contribution proposed for the year increases by about $132,703 (roughly 2.1%).

“On page 6, this is the proposed total operating budget for 26–27, and it is $7.04 million,” Heiler said. She invited board members to visit the career‑tech center and offered to answer detailed line‑item questions.

After questions from board members, the board moved and seconded approval of the VOTEC budget (financial agenda item #7). The board conducted a roll‑call vote; the motion carried with nine yes votes recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Next steps: the approved budget will be processed according to VOTEC’s timeline; board members were reminded to return ballots if they prefer a mailed vote and to do so before the center’s deadline for opening ballots in April.