SALEM — The board of education approved several financial matters in its May meeting.

The board voted unanimously to approve a resolution of necessity to present voters with the renewal of the district’s $1.3 million operational levy and request the Columbiana County Auditor certify the necessary tax information. Last approved by voters in 2015, the levy was a fixed sum one, meaning that the millage is automatically adjusted to collect only the designated amount as property values change, Treasurer Mike Douglas said.

Douglas said that the funding from the levy is used to pay the district’s day-to-day operating expenses and allows the district to operate “within a very lean budget” and that without its renewal the district would be forced to go into deficit spending within the next few years. The levy has a collection period of 10 years, and if approved by voters in November, would collect until 2036, and as a renewal would not cost taxpayers any more than they are already paying.

The board will still need to approve a subsequent resolution to officially place the renewal on the ballot for voters’ consideration in November.

The board also voted unanimously to approve a new master agreement with the Salem Education Association effective Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2028. Douglas said that under the new contract teachers would receive a 4% pay rise in year one, followed by a 3% pay rise in years two and three.

The board also approved a two-year contract for new Buckeye Elementary Principal David Guy at an annual salary of $85,000. Guy will succeed current Buckeye Principal John Lundin, who will be retiring at the end of the school year after a 34-year career, the last 13 of which have been spent at Buckeye.

The board of education will meet next at 7 p.m. June 23.