Preliminary budget numbers for Quakertown Community School District reflect residents will likely be faced with a tax increase later this year.                         

                Budget discussions for the 2015-16 school year began Jan. 22 at Quakertown's school board meeting along with a request for establishment of a high school boys lacrosse team.

                Preliminary budget numbers reflect a tax increase of 3.23 mills, taking the current millage rate from 146.65 to 149.88 and essentially costing the average taxpayer an additional $85.

                Bob Riegel, business administrator for the district, provided a brief rundown stating, "This really is just a snapshot and is the beginning of the budget process."

                Currently revenues for the 2015-16 budget total $96,187,900 with expenditures at $100,289,354 revealing a potential end budget number of $101 million. This is a 2.2 percent increase; however, Riegel is confident the new fund balance number will decrease as numbers are crunched throughout the process. "We have a pretty healthy fund balance," he said adding, due to a shortfall in the budget there will be a tax increase regardless.

                School board member Charles Shermer said, "I will press Mr. Riegel and Dr. Harner to stay under the $100 million mark."

                The final budget will be up for approval on June 11, 2015 with frequent updates provided for board members' review, administrators said.

                In other news, Richland Township resident Bill Smith requested the board's consideration of a high school boys lacrosse team to begin in the spring of this year. Smith has been a part of Quakertown's Youth Lacrosse Association for years and whose son, Jordan, is active in the sport.

                "We are hoping to provide a vehicle for the boys to do something they love," Smith said.

                The organization is currently self-financed and would not require any assistance from the district, Smith said. All uniforms and equipment for the sport are already obtained as well as a vehicle for transportation to games. The schedule would continue with 16 games, eight at home and eight away, Smith added.

                Quakertown High School has a girls team in place and, by adding a boys team, would allow for growth of the sport in the community. Smith noted that all current lacrosse players are boys from the Quakertown area, totaling 24, but interest is expected to rise given approval from the board.

                District Superintendent Dr. William Harner remarked, "Conversations started from the students in December. The boys team would run under the same parameters as the girls team and follow Title IX requirements."

                "I'm personally thrilled. Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports and it has the highest number of scholarships awarded but not used," added Harner.

                School board members agreed to come to a final decision during the Thurs., Feb. 12 meeting.

                In other business, school board member Anna Cattie provided her letter of resignation to the board effective Jan. 20. Cattie was elected in December 2011 and represented Region 3, Quakertown Borough and Richland Township, District 4. Her term was to end in December 2015.

                Cattie informed school board members in the letter, "My family situation has gotten more and more complicated since last spring and is not getting better. I cannot devote the proper time and attention to the school board and need to open the door for someone who can."

                Board President Paul Stepanoff said, "She was a valuable member of the board and really did bring a different perspective. She will be sadly missed."

                The board will be taking applications to finish Cattie's term with interviews being held Feb. 12. The application will be posted on the district's website at www.qcsd.org.