LEWISTOWN - Even though it looks as if the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania won't be meeting its June 30 deadline for passage of a budget, the Mifflin County School District's spending plan is now official.

During its regular monthly business meeting on Thursday, the Mifflin County School Board unanimously passed the 2009-10 general fund budget in the amount of $64,662,925. The budget calls for no tax millage increase with the contingency that the document can be re-opened at a later date if state funding falls short of expectations.

"I've received word that the state will not have its budget passed by the end of June," Superintendent David Runk told the board prior to passage of the budget. "It could be until mid-July until it gets done. I'm recommending the budget as it is with no tax increase. If things change, I'll recommend a committee be formed that could re-open the budget if necessary."

Prior to the budget vote, Runk expressed his disappointment with the process currently being played out in Harrisburg.

"The state is being irresponsible in my opinion," he stated. "If school districts are mandated to have preliminary budgets in place by mid February, then I believe the state should do the same. Same for the tentative budget deadline in May and the final adoption prior to the end of June. That way board members know what they have to do. I'm recommending the budget the way it is. After that, we'll just have to wait and see what happens."

Following adoption of the budget, the board then passed several tax resolutions for the next fiscal year. Those tax rates will remain the same as last year, according to Chief Financial Officer Sean Daubert.

In other business, the board heard a final presentation from Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation President Rob Postal on a request to adopt several resolutions regarding designations and extensions of Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones in the area.

Following discussion on some minor changes in wording of the resolutions, which must be submitted to the state no later than June 30, the board approved all four.

The first is a request from the former Case New Holland plant in Belleville to be designated a KOEZ with the condition that payment in lieu of taxes is agreed upon by the three taxing municipalities: the school district, Mifflin County and Union Township.

The second involves a request by MCIDC to extend a KOEZ already in place for three parcels totaling 44 acres in the Mifflin County Industrial Park for an additional seven years. Postal said the current KOEZ is in effect through 2013. During the extension period, Postal said, the land would be taxed until it becomes occupied. Once that happens, the KOEZ designation would kick back in until the year 2020.

The other two resolutions stemmed from a request from First Quality Baby Products in Granville Township to split its current site into two parcels, the first being the site of the current one million square foot manufacturing facility that already exits. At that site a KOEZ extension to 2020 would be granted, but with a payment in lieu of taxes to be paid after 2013.

The second resolution removes the rest of the acreage from the KOEZ designation and paying real estate taxes on it until it is developed and occupied before 2015. One part of that request that was changed earlier this week is a request from First Quality that it start paying real estate taxes early, beginning next year, to aid in its budget preparations.

For any of these changes to occur, Postal reminded the board that the state, as well as the other local taxing bodies, must agree to the requests.

In other action Thursday, the board:

approved a recommended contract agreement for the district's custodial-maintenance employees for the time period July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2012.

approved a recommended contract agreement for the district's clerical employees for the time period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012.

approved a recommendation to retain the law firm of Knepp and Snook to serve as the district's solicitor for the 2009-10 school year.

approved the following change orders for the Indian Valley High School construction project: $5,055.71 for a crane access road; $1,555.58 for a change in a sanitary sewer line; and $200,000 for additional geo-well casings. The board also approved a credit in the amount of $249.47 for changes in flag pole lights.

approved the following resignations: James Weaver Jr. as business manager, effective June 29, due to retirement; and Emily Reyes, fourth-grade teacher at Buchanan Elementary School, effective Aug. 1, due to relocation; and Allen C. Muir, math teacher at Lewistown Area High School, effective June 22, due to relocation.

approved the hiring of Susan Ritchey as a part-time cafeteria worker at Lewistown Middle School, effective Sept. 1.

approved the hiring of Jason Donaldson as a technology teacher at Indian Valley Middle School for the 2009-10 school year.

approved the following coaching hires: at Lewistown High School: Ronald Mills, first assistant girls basketball; J. Kirby Martin, head wrestling; Brock Hite, first assistant wrestling; Raymond Hopple, head baseball; Emily Shank, head track; Douglas DeArment, tennis; and Carl Smith, assistant trainer; at Indian Valley High School: Jeremey Penepacker, first assistant track; Michael Goss, assistant track; Cale Dietz, assistant track; and Gregory Evans, head softball.