PENNCREST to consider tax increases in preliminary budget

May 13—SAEGERTOWN — The agenda for PENNCREST School Board's meeting tonight includes two preliminary budget options for the 2024-25 school year.

Both options include tax increases, but board President Bob Johnston was unsure either could pass after concerns expressed by board members at last week's work session.

"I'm not really sure right now. Everything was kind of up in the air after (last week's) meeting," he said. "I don't think they've got the support for it."

Johnston also pointed out that the preliminary budget is not binding. The board is expected to vote on a final version of the budget at its June 10 meeting.

The two options included in the agenda for tonight's meeting feature projected expenditures of $60.4 million, down from $61.2 million projected when the budget was first introduced last month. One option would raise taxes by 2 mills, the other by 4 mills.

With a 2-mill increase, district revenue from all sources would total $57.5 million. The $2.9 million deficit would be made up using the district's $14 million fund balance.

A $4 mill increase would bring district revenue from all sources up to $58 million, leaving a 2.4 million hole to be filled from the fund balance.

A 2-mill tax hike would raise the annual rate by 3.7 percent for district residents in Crawford County. For the owner of a property assessed at the district median value of $30,275, that would mean paying $60.55 more each year than the current $1,627.28.

A 4-mill hike would raise taxes by 7.5 percent — the highest increase allowed without voter approval — resulting in the same property owner paying $122.05 more each year than the current rate.

The board meets at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Saegertown Junior-Senior High.

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