Greater Latrobe School District: Tentative budget passes with tax increase

Property owners in the Greater Latrobe School District might pay more real estate taxes, unless additional funding is obtained through the state budget.

The school board adopted a proposed 2023-24 budget of about $64.6 million, which includes a 3-mill property tax increase. The increase would help close a $1.1 million shortfall in revenues.

A 3-mill increase, to 88 mills, would add $81 to the annual bill for the owner of a property with an assessed value of $27,000.

The proposal was adopted May 17 after board members and school officials detailed why the increase is needed and one board member suggested it might be too large of an increase for some residents.

“Our average taxpayers are the ones that built this township,” school board member Andrew Repko said. “Those that are pensioners now, living in the patch houses, can’t afford that extra $81.”

“Raising taxes should be a last resort, not the first,” Repko said. “I think we can do better.”

He was the lone vote against the proposal.

“We’re not asking our taxpayers to do anything that is beyond what we need, frankly,” board member Michael Zorch said. “When you are a leading school district, and are doing things that other people want to do, of course it’s going to be a little more expensive. Of course it’s going to cost a little more, but we always balance that.”

Board member Rhonda Laughlin said the district might be able to forego a tax increase if state funding is sufficient.

District officials are waiting to see how much funding the district will receive from the state before finalizing a spending plan.

“This is just a blueprint,” Zorch said. “We can change the numbers if we have to. If the state comes up with more money for us, then we can do that.”

The final budget will be voted on in June.

“This is a snapshot in time as it stands today,” Superintendent Michael Porembka said. “We can’t go higher, but we can certainly go lower. We have until June 30 to decide our final budget.”

District business administrator Dan Watson said issues such as rising costs to fund the Eastern Westmoreland Career and Technology Center and safety and security initiatives also are affecting the budget. Additionally, board members are pursuing a facilities master plan study and will have to pay for it.

Last year, school board members raised taxes by 1 mill.