The Baldwin-Whitehall School Board has passed a $58.78 million budget for the coming school year that contains a small millage decrease that will save the average taxpayer about $10 to $20 a year.

The board at its June 24 meeting said it would reduce the tax rate by 0.11 mills. And, while the average savings to a taxpayer is small, it is still significant, said Superintendent Dr. Lawrence C. Korchnak after the meeting.

"It is a important in this economy to perform a good-faith gesture to show taxpayers we understand what's happening in terms of economic realities," he said.

Board member Kevin Fischer said his neighbors have said of a tax break, "If you can give [one], give [one], however small."

The new tax rate will be 23.5 mills. The 2008-09 rate is 23.61 mills. Each mill generates about $1.4 million.

It is the district's second consecutive year with a millage rate reduction. Last year's cut was 1 mill.

Despite a recently completed $64 million high school renovation project -- which came in $1.2 million under budget -- officials said they were able to reduce taxes through line-by-line budget trimmings and cuts wherever feasible.

Board President Martin Schmotzer said the budget retained a "healthy" fund balance of 5.21 percent.

In other meeting news, the board accepted the resignation of high school principal Dr. Todd Keruskin, effective June 30, to become the assistant superintendent in the Elizabeth Forward School District.

Dr. John W. Wilkinson, Baldwin-Whitehall's assistant superintendent of secondary education, will continue in his current role as well as interim high school principal through the 2009-10 school year.