Hempfield Area School District sets timeline for 2023-24 budget process

The Hempfield Area School District has established a timeline for its 2023-24 budget process that may or may not introduce a tax increase for district residents.

According to the timeline shared during the Hempfield school board’s Monday night meeting, the district must adopt a proposed general fund budget by May 31. This proposal must be available to the public by June 20, and the district must adopt the general fund budget and set the actual real estate tax millage rate up to 10 days later, by June 30.

The district can raise the millage rate by up to a 5% index — or 4.17 mills — in 2023-24, said district business manager Paul Schott.

Hempfield’s current millage rate, 83.46 mills, has remained steady for four consecutive years. The rate applies to the assessed value of real estate properties in the district.

Hempfield currently has the lowest millage rate in Westmoreland County. Burrell School District has the highest at 107.00 mills.

Neighboring districts have 2022-23 millage rates of 89.72 (Greensburg Salem), 85.80 (Norwin), 89.75 (Penn-Trafford) and 106.36 (Franklin Regional).

The board’s finance committee will meet to discuss the budget in April, May and June.