After months of discussions about the administration's budget versus a school board director's budget, the Canon-McMillan school board voted 5-4 Monday night in favor of the administration's $59,780,084 figure for the coming year. That budget includes a 4.85-mill tax increase.

Directors Robert Malwitz, Joseph Zupancic, Manuel Pihakis, Debbie Link and Laura Grossman voted in favor of the budget presented by Business Manager Joni Mansmann. Directors Adam Galambos, Kathleen Smith, Nick Cianelli Jr. and Jay Romano dissented, because they supported an alternative budget prepared by Mr. Galambos, that didn't include a tax increase.

Mr. Galambos said the new budget includes a $5.5 million tax increase in revenue from the 2008-09 school year. He said his proposed budget included cost-cutting measures, such as saving $307,000 by deferring accrual for potential future retiree healthcare costs.

Before the vote, some district residents in the audience spoke out against the tax increase.

"Four years in a row is totally out of line given our economy today," said Joan Celento, of Canonsburg.

Maureen Thompson, of Cecil, asked the board members to look for ways to trim the budget.Karen Harr, of North Strabane, asked the board to consider decreasing raises and increasing personal contributions to health care costs when negotiating teachers' contracts this year.

The tax increase brings total millage to 101.85, or $10.19 on each $1,000 of assessed valuation of taxable property.

"I think it's unconscionable to go out in this worldwide recession and ask for a tax increase," Mr. Romano said.

One mill generates approximately $300,000 for the school district. According to Ms. Mansmann, a 4.85-mill tax increase will equal $50.49 annually in Canonsburg, $88.99 in Cecil and $107.89 in North Strabane. She estimated the average school taxes a homeowner pays each year at the current tax rate is $989.66 in Canonsburg, $1,708 in Cecil and $2,109 in North Strabane.

When she presented the preliminary budget in April, Ms. Mansmann said the district has a history of overspending and has been in debt since the 2005-06 school year.