Crawford Central considers size of tax increase for 2024-25

May 15—VERNON TOWNSHIP — Taxes are likely going up for residents of Crawford Central School District, but it's not yet clear whether they will rise the full 5.5 percent proposed by administrators.

A poll of the board at Monday's work session indicated three members who are already sold on the 5.5 percent increase: Jeff Rose, Holly Chatman and Ryan Pickering.

Four others said they want the administration to offer a preliminary budget option with a smaller tax increase: Monica Hargenrater, Ed DeVore, Tammy Silvis and Ron Irwin.

"I'm not saying I'm against where we're at," Silvis said, "but if we could get it lower, it might be nice to see it."

Board President Kevin Merritt straddled the divide between the two options.

"I kind of like where it's at," he said of the proposed budget with a 5.5 percent tax increase, "but I'd like to see it lower."

Jan Feleppa said, "No," when board members were responding to a question of whether they supported the 5.5 percent tax hike or would like to see a version of the budget with a smaller increase. After the meeting, Feleppa clarified that she was saying "no" to a tax increase of any size.

While she acknowledged that a tax increase might be the only way to address the budget deficit without significant cuts to the district's programs, Feleppa cited concerns about long term questions raised by a feasibility study presented to the board in February.

"There is evidence to show how declining enrollment and ineffective use of building capacity is negatively affecting our expenditures and how we are managing and spending taxpayers' dollars," Feleppa said in an email. "Until there is a specific plan with dates and further study, I will be voting no for any tax increase."

The preliminary budget presented to the board last month includes $67.8 in projected revenues and $71.1 million in projected expenditures, leaving a deficit of more than $4.3 million. In addition to the tax increase, the budget uses $3.1 million from the district's fund balance to eliminate the deficit. The fund balance stood at $15.6 million at the end of March.

If approved, the proposed hike of 5.5 percent would cost the owner of a home assessed at the district's average assessed value of $30,000 another $93 beginning next year, according to Business Manager Austin Stofferahn. The increase would bring the annual school tax amount up from $1,703.30 to about $1,796.

Property owners eligible for the state's homestead exclusion will receive a $355 discount, Stofferahn added, bringing the annual taxes for a property assessed at the district's median value down to approximately $1,441. The homestead exclusion is up from $294.01 last year.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify Jan Feleppa's opposition to the proposed tax increase.

Mike Crowley can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at mcrowley@meadvilletribune.com.