The Southern York County School District recently adopted a final budget that calls for a tax increase of 1.96 percent.

That tax hike raises the district's property tax rate by 0.33 mills, taking the tax rate from 16.84 to 17.17 mills. That translates into a $33 tax increase for the owner of a $100,000 home, a tax hike of about $49 for the owner of a $150,000 home.

The district faced a state-assigned property tax cap of 2 percent. District officials said it marks the fifth straight year Southern's tax hike has been below the state limit.

But to balance the $7.5 million budget, officials cut $900,000 from an earlier budget proposed and agreed to use $1.4 million from the district's surplus funds.

The spending cuts included reducing staff by six teachers and two support staff, all positions left vacant after retirements, reducing department and building budgets by 5 percent and cutting back on staff development conferences co-curricular staff.

The board also approved staff salaries.

The base increase for district administrators for the 2012-13 school year 1.75 percent. The non-union support staff will receive an average increase of 2.6 percent.

District officials said employees have not seen a pay hike July 2010.