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The approved Monday night a preliminary final 2012-2013 budget that includes a hike in a 5-4 vote that followed, what the Express-Times describes as “hours of, at times, acrimonious discussion.”

The dissenting votes in the end came from Directors Lynn Donches, Rebecca Heid, Michael Policano and Julian Stolz. Donches, Heid and Stolz each proposed amended versions of the administration’s proposed budget that failed to gain traction during the meeting.

Donches proposed a spending plan with no tax increase, stating that East Penn should be spending more of the district's fund balance to bridge the budget gap.

Heid suggested using a $1,250,294 construction reimbursement from the state instead of depleting the fund balance to offset 2012-13 taxes. That money is currently slated for a 2013-14 pension payment.

Stolz advocated a budget plan that combined aspects of Donches' and Heid's proposals.

All three proposals failed before the administration's proposed budget was ultimately approved.

East Penn will vote on the final budget for 2012-2013 on June 25. The state of Pennsylvania mandates that final school budgets be adopted by June 30.