Tax increase included in draft Hempfield Area budget

A 2.3 mill real estate tax increase that’s included in a proposed 2023-24 budget will be used to cover expenses associated with rising health insurance rates, updated curriculum, and hiring school police officers in Hempfield Area School District.

The proposed spending plan was adopted Monday by Hempfield’s school board.

The budget projects a net deficit of nearly $1.4 million, with expenditures of about $106.9 million and revenues of about $105.6 million.

The board voted six to one with two absences to adopt the budget, and will vote to officially approve it on June 26.

Information on the budget will be posted for the public to view for the next 30 days ahead of the vote.

Changes this year

Revenues are projected to increase by about $2.8 million or 2.72% from last year, while expenditures will increase by about $4.2 million or 4.07%, according to the board’s report.

Contributing to the increase in expenditures are a nearly $1.3 million increase in health insurance costs, a more than $900,000 increase for the purchase of new curriculum, and an increase of more than $140,000 to hire three new police officers for the district.

The proposed tax increase would provide the funds to balance the budget. Hempfield business manager Paul Schott said the district opted for a tax increase instead of dipping into the fund balance because some of the most significant budget increases were in health insurance costs, which recur year by year. The fund balance is more likely to be used for rarely-occurring or one-and-done expenses, he said.

At the median assessed value for the district, $22,525, the tax increase would equate to an additional $51.81 per year per household.

Board and public perspectives

Paul Schott noted that at 83.46 mills, the district has the lowest millage of all districts in Westmoreland County. With the 2.30 mill tax increase, the district’s spot would rise slightly to the third lowest at 85.76 mills.

Board vice president Scott Learn emphasized that the expense increases are not caused by the high school renovation project.

“There are misnomers out there, I just want to make sure everyone knows that,” said Learn.

Superintendent Tammy Wolicki highlighted the importance of the curriculum purchase in order to update outdated science and world language curricula, last updated back in 2014 and 2015.

“Pushing them back a year only pushes all the other content areas back as well, and makes them even older as we finally get through the cycle to refresh those,” Wolicki said.

A handful of parents had questions about the impact of future high school renovation project expenses on the budget. Resident Charlie Frederickson asked whether potential over-budget portions of bids for the high school renovation project would result in parts of the project being cut, or whether taxes would be raised further.

Superintendent Tammy Wolicki recommended he reach out to the superintendent’s office after the meeting for further information. Board member Vince DeAugustine noted that the buildings and grounds committee is planning a town-hall style meeting to be held in the next several weeks to answer questions on the high school renovation project.

A date is not yet set for the meeting.