The Altoona Area School Board has approved the new final general fund budget, and it does not include a tax increase… although some board members didn’t agree with the final decision. Rick Hoover… according to published reports… said a tax increase is necessary in order for the district to avoid a fiscal cliff within the next few years. Hoover explained that he believed it would be worth it, although he personally doesn’t want to pay any more in taxes. He said an increase doesn’t necessarily have to be major in order for financial progress to be made. Revenue for the upcoming year totals $116.03 million. This year, that figure was $104.5 million. Expenditures for 2021-22 total $116.8 million; this year’s expenditures are $110.2 million. The deficit for the 2021-22 school year is $831,876, which is approximately $100,000 more than the district’s May projection of $700,000.