JOHNSONBURG — During Thursday’s meeting, the Johnsonburg Area School District approved a resolution that limits the district’s ability to raise taxes for the 2017-2018 school year.

Each year, school districts are presented with an index rate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education; this rate represents the highest tax increase that districts can impose while staying on the normal budget timeline.

This year, the index rate for JASD is 3.6 percent. With a unanimous vote, the school board approved a motion to accept this rate and limit any potential tax increase at 3.6 percent.

This vote does not indicate whether the district will increase taxes or not, instead it only states that a tax increase will not surpass 3.6 percent if the district chooses to impose one.

According to JASD board treasurer Patricia Calkins, a 3.6 percent tax increase would yield an additional $78,000 for the district.

An actual tax increase by the school district is not likely to be considered until the district begins its budget process in early 2017.

In addition to discussing the index rate, Johnsonburg Superintendent Dennis Crotzer said on Thursday that the district has received a $29,624 grant for academic performance throughout the 2015-2016 school year.

The grant was received from the U.S. Department of Education through its Small, Rural School Achievement Program.

Crotzer did not say what the grant money will be used for.