Farrell Area school directors approved a tentative budget Monday that raises property taxes by 7 mills, for a total of 50.67 mills.

Directors will continue to review the $11.9 million proposal, to look at places where they can cut spending, as the district faces a $363,000 shortfall. The new spending plan is 7.3 percent higher than this year's, because of increases in employee health-care costs, natural gas and electricity costs, and the district's contribution to the Public School Employees' Retirement System.

"This budget is a worst-case scenario," said Mike Stabile, business manager.

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