Some board members oppose Penn-Trafford’s 1% tax hike because it isn’t big enough, they say
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Property tax bills will be going up by about $30 per year after a divided Penn-Trafford School Board approved a 1 mill tax hike.
The board voted, 6-3, in favor of the 1.1% increase that will support a $68.5 million budget the board also approved Monday.
Board members Bryan Kline and Dallas Leonard voted against the final budget. Kline, Leonard and Jim Matarazzo voted against the tax hike.
Leonard and Matarazzo said they voted against the tax increase because they did not think it was high enough to support the district’s spending.
Kline, who in May opposed any increase in taxes, upheld his stance Monday.
“Given the recent tax increase imposed by the Republican-led board of county commissioners, I believe it is important to exercise caution when considering additional tax burdens on our residents this year because of the 32.5% tax increase they imposed,” Kline said.
Superintendent Matthew Harris initially sought a 3-mill increase to keep up with rising costs. The board approved a preliminary budget with a 2-mill increase in May.
Harris said he is concerned the millage rate will not be high enough to keep up with district spending.
“As a school superintendent I wanted 2 mills, because I’m worried that we’re going to have to take too much money out of the fund balance and pay for the next year’s contract. But I am happy that (the budget) did pass and that the board also gave permission to take the money out of the fund balance.”
The tax rate will be 90.75 mills for Westmoreland County residents and 13.97 mills for Allegheny County residents.
One mill brings the district about $315,000 in Westmoreland County and about $230,000 in Allegheny County, according to district business manager Brett Lago.
This would increase tax bills by about $27, Lago said. The average tax bill is $2,540 for Westmoreland residents and $1,400 for Allegheny residents.
The district’s average assessed value for Westmoreland homeowners is $27,690. It is $64,865 in Allegheny County, where there are 17 properties registered in the district, Lago said.
Salary increases
Penn-Trafford spent $65.9 million last school year. The nearly 4% increase in next school year’s budget is the result of rising costs for cyber and charter schools, special education, transportation, maintenance and employee salaries, Lago said.
The board unanimously approved a five-year employee contract that includes a 3.8% annual salary increase and boosts the starting teachers salary more than 13%, from $43,300 to $49,100.
“They deserve it,” Harris said. “My teachers work very hard.”
The contract also obligates teachers to pay 2% more for medical benefits each year, Harris said.
Board member Toni Ising said contract negotiations began in January.
“I feel that we’ve come to a contract that awards our teachers for doing such a great job and producing these high scores, and we acknowledge our parents for their critical part in that,” Ising said. “But, especially today, we’re honoring our teachers.”