Pine-Richland School Board members not facing election support pursuing tax increase exception

The five members of the Pine-Richland School Board whose seats are not up for election this year unanimously support the district pursuing increasing property taxes by more than its state-imposed inflation limit for the 2026-27 school year.

Superintendent Brian Miller sought the positions of holdover board members Marc Casciani, Ashley Fortier, Leslie Miller, Philip Morrissette and Michael Wiethorn on Monday, Oct. 20, during the third of four meetings focused on the district’s finances as it faces a projected $4.9 million deficit for the next school year.

The meeting focused on the district’s debt and capital projects.

Brian Miller wanted to know where those board members stood because applying for approval for the district to increase property taxes by more than its 3.5% limit requires following a different budget timeline.

Under that timeline, the district has to have a proposed version of a preliminary 2026-27 budget available for public inspection by Jan. 29 and must adopt a preliminary budget by Feb. 18.

Pine-Richland has not had a property tax increase since 2017-18. Administrators now are recommending at least a 3.5% increase, Brian Miller has said.

Special education costs could give Pine-Richland cause to increase taxes by more than its limit, Brian Miller has said. The district would seek a referendum exception from the state Department of Education, which if approved would allow that to happen without voter approval at the May 19 primary.

Special education was the focus of the second finance meeting on Oct. 6.

If the district qualifies for a special education referendum exception, Brian Miller said the district would not be required to use it.

“The increase in special ed costs as opposed to the revenue that comes along with the requirements we have both morally and legally to meet those requirements, that’s why that special ed exception exists,” he said. “Seeing if we qualify does not hurt us and provides other opportunities to consider for the board.”

Fortier said she supports the district exploring going above the limit to keep its options open.

“I think it would be prudent for us to start that process,” she said.

Wiethorn said he agreed.

“I think that makes sense as well,” Casciani said.

“I’m in support of doing that as well,” Morrissette said.

“I would support that exploration,” Leslie Miller said.

Morrissette, Leslie Miller and Wiethorn were among the board’s five-member majority that approved the district’s 2025-26 budget with no tax increase over Brian Miller’s call for at least a 2.1% hike, slightly more than half of its then-4% limit. Also supporting the no-tax increase plan were Lisa Hillman, who is not seeking reelection, and Christina Brussalis.

Leslie Miller said her agreement to explore all of the options should not be confused with support of any one in particular.

“It’s important for the community to be fully aware of all scenarios and the potential impacts to them personally as we make these decisions,” she said. “We need all the data to make informed decisions.”

Brussalis, who represents the district’s Region 2, is the only incumbent seeking reelection on Nov 4. She is doing so with a slate that includes Eddie Boczar in Region 1, Robert Stein in Region 2 and Christopher David Griffin in Region 3.

They are challenged by an opposing slate that consists of Liz DeLosa in Region 1, Amy Cafardi and Melissa Vecchi in Region 2, and Randy Augustine in Region 3.

The fourth and final meeting in the series on the district’s finances on Nov. 10 will focus on transportation, technology, tuition and utility costs. Purchasing processes, such as joint purchasing agreements, consortium pricing and thresholds for quotes and bids, also will be reviewed.

The 2026-27 budget also is scheduled to be discussed at a finance meeting scheduled for Dec. 8.