The Moon Area school board Monday night opened the door to a 0.87-mill tax increase and decided to include extended-day kindergarten in whatever budget it eventually approves.

The kindergarten program, which will offer extra instruction for up to 72 children, passed on a split vote. Board members Sandra McCurdy, Jeff Bussard and Michael Nagy said they weren't opposed to the program, but wanted to assess it as part of the overall budget.

"I can't approve budget items on a one-off basis," Mrs. McCurdy said. "It's not fiscally responsible."

Superintendent Donna Milanovich said the concept, developed by a committee of teachers over several months, needed to be approved early so it could be presented to parents at an upcoming kindergarten screening.

The program will target children with lagging word skills, to help them reach the level of their peers entering first grade.

"I am trying to meet the needs of a significant portion of our population," Dr. Milanovich said.

The program's estimated $240,000 pricetag was part of the $65.7 million preliminary budget approved by the board on a 5-4 vote, with Jerry Testa joining Mrs. McCurdy, Mr. Bussard and Mr. Nagy voting against.

The budget includes the allowable 2.9 percent "index" tax increase -- which calculates to 0.61 mills for Moon -- as well as an extra 0.26-mill increase to cover the upcoming costs of funding the employees' pension plan.

Districts are limited to the "index" increases set by the state, but can apply for exceptions to meet specific expenses, such as the retirement plan. They must approve preliminary budgets to apply for the exceptions.

The projected increase does not mean that the final 2010-11 budget will include a 0.87-mill increase. The board could pass a budget in June that keeps taxes at the current 21.3 mills. By passing a preliminary budget, however, the board does reserve the right to seek such an increase.

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