. 7 %, ▁Base ▁ 1 . 7 % ▁▁ ▁For ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 - 1 3 ▁budget ▁year , ▁New ▁Castle ▁Area ▁School ▁Board ▁did ▁not ▁apply ▁for ▁exceptions ▁to ▁exceed ▁the ▁Act ▁ 1 ▁Index . ▁For ▁ 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3 , ▁ 2 7 4 ▁school ▁districts ▁adopted ▁a ▁resolution ▁cert ifying ▁that ▁tax ▁rates ▁would ▁not ▁be ▁increased ▁above ▁their ▁index ; ▁ 2 2 3 ▁school ▁districts ▁adopted ▁a ▁pre lim inary ▁budget ▁leaving ▁open ▁the ▁option ▁of ▁exceed ed ▁the ▁Index ▁limit . ▁For ▁the ▁exception ▁for ▁p ension ▁costs , ▁ 1 9 4 ▁school ▁districts ▁received ▁appro val ▁to ▁exceed ▁the ▁Index . ▁For ▁special ▁education ▁costs , ▁ 1 2 9 ▁districts ▁received ▁appro val ▁to ▁exceed ▁the ▁tax ▁limit . ▁ ▁For ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 - 1 2 ▁school ▁year , ▁the ▁New ▁Castle ▁Area ▁School ▁Board ▁did ▁not ▁apply ▁for ▁an ▁exception ▁to ▁exceed ▁the ▁Act ▁ 1 ▁Index . ▁Each ▁year , ▁the ▁New ▁Castle ▁Area ▁School ▁Board ▁has ▁the ▁option ▁of ▁adopt ing ▁either ▁ 1 ) ▁a ▁resolution ▁in ▁January ▁cert ifying ▁they ▁will ▁not ▁increase ▁tax es ▁above ▁their ▁index ▁or ▁ 2 ) ▁a ▁pre lim inary ▁budget ▁in ▁February . ▁A ▁school ▁district ▁adopt ing ▁the ▁resolution ▁may ▁not ▁apply ▁for ▁refer endum ▁exceptions ▁or ▁ask ▁vot ers ▁for ▁a ▁tax ▁increase ▁above ▁the ▁infl ation ▁index . ▁A ▁specific ▁tim eline ▁for ▁these