Quaker Valley School District avoids tax increase for 2nd consecutive year

Quaker Valley School District residents will not see a tax increase for the second consecutive year.

The Quaker Valley School Board voted unanimously to approve the 2021-2022 final general fund budget on May 25 in the amount of $53,610,250. The budget will be used to fill an estimated $728,000 gap.

The real estate levy would total 19.4711 millage with no increase; $525,000 of the budget will be distributed to support the Sewickley Public Library of the Quaker Valley School District.

Keeping families and the effects of the pandemic in mind, the board was determined to not increase taxes.

“This has been an incredibly difficult year for everyone especially our school staff, teachers and students,” Superintendent Tammy Andreyko said. “Our thoughtful approach toward expenditures and financial stability has brought us to this very important decision to not seek a tax increase for the second year. To get to the point now of a zero-tax increase should come as a comfort to the public and demonstrate the fact that the district is a stable one.”

Scott Antoline, the district’s director of finance and operations said the board plans to continue to strategize ways to save for the future.

“We have a long-term approach to plan and save for the future and we are grateful that our board has led this strategic approach to prepare for future liabilities and capital needs while also maintaining an appropriate rainy-day fund for times such as these,” Antoline said.

School board president Jonathan Kuzma echoed the same thoughts, emphasizing on the district’s great performance in fiscal responsibility.

“We continue to maintain one of the lowest tax rates in the region while attaining many high-performance accolades, a value that does not go unnoticed in the community,” Kuzma said.