Norwin board debates whether to hike taxes or cut spending in proposed budget

Norwin School Board members have yet to reach a consensus on how they will deal with a projected $4.1 million shortfall in the district’s proposed 2022-23 budget.

Board members and residents this week debated whether the district should increase taxes, dip into its reserves or make spending cuts to balance the spending plan.

The board’s personnel and budget committee proposed eliminating one of the two full-day kindergarten classes in each of its four elementary schools, reducing those to half-day programs and allowing two teachers to be reassigned to other positions, said Darlene Ciocca, board president. With attrition among the teaching staff, that would save $200,000.

Each of the four elementary schools have three kindergarten teachers, two that instruct full-day sessions and one that instructs a morning session and an afternoon session. Under the proposed restructuring, one teacher would instruct a morning session, then travel to another building to instruct an afternoon session of kindergarten.

Up to three elementary teaching positions could be eliminated through attrition, saving $300,000, but class sizes would increase in grade levels, resulting in some grades having an average class size of 28 students, Superintendent Jeff Taylor said.

The same committee determined that the school district could save $300,000 by eliminating three elementary teaching positions. But, that could create multiple classrooms with 27 or 28 students, said Superintendent Jeff Taylor.

By eliminating one high school teacher, Norwin could save $100,000, but cause an increase in class sizes, Ciocca said.

The district could save $100,000 by eliminating a high school teaching position, Ciocca said.

None of the teachers would lose their positions but would be reassigned to other jobs, and savings would come from attrition, Ciocca said.

A budget under discussion projects $83.5 million in expenditures, but revenues of only about $78.9 million without a tax increase. The board is expected to vote May 23 on the proposed budget.

The district could tap into its reserve fund balance of $11.2 million to avoid a tax hike.

The maximum tax hike allowed by state guidelines is 4.4%. It would raise real estate taxes for property owners in North Huntingdon, North Irwin and Irwin by 3.73 mills, from 84.8 mills to 88.53 mills.

The tax levy also includes 1.2 mills collected by the school district for Norwin Public Library, as approved in a voter referendum.

The tax hike would raise the school taxes by $83 on the median assessed value of residential property, which is about $22,310, according to district data.

The district also includes 18 properties in Allegheny County. The tax rate on those properties would increase by 0.5 mills, from 12.72 mills to 12.77 mills.

Director Joanna Jordan said she would support a “minimal tax increase if that is what we decide we need.”

Director Bob Wayman, who is a retired Norwin teacher, rebuffed concerns that a teachers contract approved last year is the cause of the budget shortfall.

Instead, Wayman highlighted the $24 million used for discretionary spending.

“I don’t know where that money is going,” Wayman said. “All those line items should be investigated to make sure the expenditures are absolutely necessary. “

To raise taxes when the district has a fund balance of $11 million is not reasonable, Wayman said.

“That is why I am opposed to a tax increase … when the district is flush with cash,” he added.

The fund balance should be between 5% and 8% of the total budget, based on school board policy, said Ryan Kirsch, business affairs director.

The current fund balance is “stable,” but the district is facing “significant costs we need to address,” Kirsch said.

Harkening back to his election in November, Director Alex Detschelt said he would not vote for a tax increase.

When he and fellow directors Shawna Ilagan and Christine Baverso campaigned last year, none were in favor of a tax hike, he said.

Ilagan said she would not support a tax increase.

If the board cuts elementary teachers, class sizes would increase, Director Patrick Lynn said.

Detschelt said he wanted to see a line item budget of nonmandated items to see how that money is being spent.

“I need to see all items that constitute discretionary items,” Detschelt said.

Ilagan also said the board needs a line-item list of the bills, so they can explore the reasons for the expenditures.

North Huntingdon resident Donna Dowd said the district should become more transparent with budget information made available to the public, rather than by grouping expenditures by categories.

Dowd pointed to one expenditure of about $3,000 for an inflatable decoration, when some foreign language instruction and consumer and economic science instruction had been cut.

“Student education is a priority, not the fluff,” Dowd said.