Shaler Area School District holds line on taxes with 2020-21 budget

Shaler Area School Board last week approved the district’s $90 million budget, green-lighting a slew of security projects that board members said target student safety.

Residents won’t see a tax hike in the 2020-21 school year, with the final budget maintaining the tax rate at 23.5 mills.

The owner of a home assessed at $100,000 will again pay property taxes of $2,350.

“As a school board, we recognize the burden of a tax increase on our taxpayers, especially at this time,” board president Jim Tunstall said. “With this in mind, the district administration and department directors worked very hard to present a budget that included no tax increase but also maintained our educational programs and the safety and security of our buildings and facilities.”

Included in the budget is money to continue the district’s 1:1 iPad initiative, which ensures a device for every student in grades 7-12.

There also is money to cover the salary for two school resource officers.

Some other large projects to be funded are the first in a line of improvements identified as most important for the safety of students and staff, along with the maintenance of facilities, Tunstall said.

Work will include replacing doors at the high school and Marzolf Primary, purchasing new boiler systems at the elementary school and Burchfield Primary, repaving the high school parking lot and upgrading the exterior lighting, replacing outdated automatic control systems, and improving HVAC at the high school, middle school and elementary school.

Video surveillance cameras throughout the district are also scheduled to be replaced.

Bethany Baker, communications specialist, said about 92 percent of the district’s expenses are fixed and contractual costs related to compensation, transportation, charter school and outside placement tuition and debt service.

“The district recognizes that the current economic crisis will affect the financial stability of many organizations and individuals within the Shaler Area community,” she said.

With an increase of about 1.7% over the current year’s plan, the 2020-21 budget includes about $84.2 million in revenue.

Baker said the district will use about $5.8 million from its fund balance, along with continued analysis of the budget throughout the year for cost-saving measures.