Leechburg Area School District members passed a final budget for the 2024-25 school year that includes a tax increase for some residents and a slight decrease for others.

While the district will collect about the same amount of real estate taxes as the school year that just ended, there will be adjustments to millage rates based on State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) equalization between Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Leechburg Area teaches students from West Leechburg (Westmoreland), and Leechburg and Gilpin (Armstrong).

With STEB rebalancing adjustments, the millage rate will be set at 158.61 for West Leechburg, resulting in a homeowner with a median assessed property value of $18,200 paying $2,887, and 68.48 for Leechburg and Gilpin, resulting in a homeowner with a median assessed property value of $32,600 paying $2,300.

That is a 10.4% (14.96 mills) increase for West Leechburg property owners and a 2.9% (2.06 mills) decrease for those in Leechburg and Gilpin compared to current rates.

The budget includes more than $16.5 million in expenditures with about $15.9 million in revenue. Part of the district’s general fund balance, with the predicted value of $4.5 million, will be used to close the deficit.

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