North Hills puts end to 6-year run of tax increases

As promised when the budget for 2021 was introduced in mid-April, the North Hills School Board has approved an $84 million spending plan that holds the line on property taxes.

While it remains unclear how much the state-mandated shutdown of businesses will impact the district’s revenue, officials said they did not want to consider adding more of a financial burden to families by raising taxes.

“In what was anticipated to be a difficult budget year even before covid-19, I am thrilled we were able to produce a balanced budget without a tax increase,” said Superintendent Pat Mannarino. “It is the right thing to do for our community members during this extremely difficult time for us all.”

The freeze ends a six-year run of hikes approved to finance school operations.

At the current rate of 18.65 mills, property owners will continue to pay $18.65 for every $1,000 of their home’s assessed value.

The superintendent said the district is receiving federal and state funding to help finance “areas in the budget where we would have been otherwise forced to take a pause in growth.”

Next year’s budget does not include staff furloughs or cuts in programs and curriculum.

To avoid shortfalls, district officials have asked all departments to “think creatively,” reallocate resources and “make do with less.”

The district cut the amount of money typically placed in contingency funds used to address emergencies and other unforeseen needs. Additional money will not be placed into the capital fund, which is used to finance building and renovation projects.

Officials also are looking to the next school year and how to keep students and staff safe.

To help reduce the chances of spreading coronavirus when in-person classes resume, the district has expanded its programs to provide technology to students for remote learning.

All students will receive district-issued iPads to eliminate the need for sharing devices in classrooms.

Water fountains in all district buildings and at Martorelli Stadium will be replaced with water bottle filling stations to help reduce the spread of germs.

”We are aware of the extreme financial difficulties faced by many at this time because of the economic fallout from covid-19,” said board President Allison Mathis. “This was a unique budgeting challenge and a difficult year, but I commend the administration for presenting the board with a balanced budget without a tax increase.”