Burrell property owners to pay 3.8% more in school taxes next school year

Burrell School Board this week approved a budget for next school year that increases property taxes for homeowners by 3.8%.

The spending plan totals roughly $37.4 million. It begins to pay off a $10 million bond for proposed infrastructure projects at district buildings, adds an armed security guard at Charles A. Huston Middle School and security coverage for all after-school events.

The property tax increase included in the proposal is 4.5 mills, from 117.5 to 122 mills, Business Manager Jennifer Callahan said.

One mill generates about $150,000 in revenue.

A shrinking tax base and declining property assessments contribute to the tax increase, despite the district trying to reduce its expenditures, Callahan said.

Burrell eliminated eight positions districtwide through attrition from this year to the next school year, Callahan said.

Those position eliminations alone saved about $673,000, equating to about 4.5 mills of taxes, Callahan said.

“It really hit every area of district personnel,” Callahan said. “That was all through attrition, which means someone resigned or retired.

“Because personnel was the largest expense, these are the biggest adjustments we can make to reduce our expenditures in the district.”

Additionally, Callahan anticipates the district will save $145,000 annually by closing Stewart Elementary School, but a full effect of savings won’t be realized until the property is sold.

District officials said it’s cheaper to improve infrastructure at the district’s three remaining buildings — Bon Air Elementary, Huston Middle and Burrell High schools — than it would have been to renovate Stewart.

Despite those attempts at savings, the district still gets hit with a consistent decline in its total assessed value, driven largely by successful tax appeals from large commercial properties.

Callahan said there’s been no increase in the overall district assessed value over the past several years. Those revenues are the same for the district as they were in 2011-12.

“It’s difficult to balance a budget when you’re dealing with these challenges,” Callahan said.

The budget allocates $702,000 for cyber or charter school tuition, which is a 19% increase from the school year that just ended. The district budgeted close to $184,000 for its own virtual learning options for students, which are its eAcademy and the Alle-Kiski Academy of Excellence.

“When students participate in that, it’s much cheaper than a cyber charter,” Callahan said. “We do what we can to reduce our costs as a school district.”

Callahan said properties that qualify for the state homestead/farmstead exemption would see a $298 reduction in their tax bills, which is $40 more than last year.

“That helps offset the tax increase,” she said. “For those homesteads approved, it’s a 2.3% tax increase for the median (assessed) home.”

Superintendent Shannon Wagner said the budget was passed in a 6-2 vote, with Directors Rick Kaczor, Tom Deiseroth, LeeAnn Guido, Nikki Watson, Gretchen Beveridge and Tim Vinkovich voting in favor. Pam Key and Jean Schager were opposed. Tricia Shank was absent.