Property taxes to jump 5% to support Hempfield Area budget

Property taxes in Hempfield Area School District will be going up nearly 6% to support a 2024-2025 budget approved Monday by the school board.

The $109.6 million budget will increase the district’s tax rate from 85.76 mills to 90.76 mills.

It was approved in an 8-1 vote, with board member Jennifer Bretz voting no.

The district’s revenues without the tax increase amounted to $106.6 million. The approved budget uses $810,000 of the district’s reserves, which total nearly $8.4 million.

For a property with an assessed value of $22,610, the annual tax increase will be about $113 — about $9 per month.

The tax increase is not related to the district’s high school renovation project, which is funded by a 2022 bond.

Hempfield has increased its real estate tax millage rate eight times over the last 12 years.

Rising health insurance, salary, retirement, Social Security/Medicare, transportation, charter school, special education and CWCTC costs contributed to the 2.48% increase in expenses for this year’s budget, according to a presentation from business manager Paul Schott. The end of federal pandemic funding also decreased the district’s revenues.

Jobs changes

Two librarian positions, one special education teacher position, and three teacher positions were eliminated. The three teacher positions — one math and one English teacher at the high school level and one reading teacher at the elementary level— had been paid for using federal pandemic relief funds.

The other three positions were eliminated as part of the 2024-2025 budget. According to Interim Superintendent Kimberlie Rieffannacht, no one is being furloughed and the individuals will be reassigned to positions within their certifications.

“As hard as it is to raise taxes, the fact that we have chosen not to furlough teachers and not to cut programs, I think, is commendable, and I think it has the school district at heart, as tough sometimes as it is,” said board member Diane Ciabattoni. “Some of the programs may have been trimmed, but nothing has been cut. That makes me, at least, okay with it.”