New Kensington-Arnold yet to decide on property tax increase in 2021-22 budget

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board will decide in June if there will be any property tax increase for next school year.

The school board approved a $40.05 million proposed budget Tuesday that currently carries no tax increase. The district’s millage rate is 88.27 mills.

With revenue of $39.62 million, the budget has a shortfall of about $426,600. Without a tax increase, it would be covered by the district’s reserves, which are expected to be about $2.23 million at the start of next school year.

The district is allowed to increase its property tax rate by 4.4%, up to a maximum of 92.158 mills.

McVey said the district did not qualify to ask the state for permission to raise taxes higher than its inflation-based limit.

The school board will decide if the tax rate increases when it takes a final vote on the budget on June 1.

Acting Superintendent Jon Banko said there are no plans to furlough teachers.

The budget is available for inspection on the district’s website and at the administration office until June 1.

In other finance-related business:

• The school board approved four general areas where the district will spend about $5.23 million from the second Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant, known as ESSER II.

The district would spend about $2.4 million on covid-19 staffing, $1.8 million on technology, $931,200 on student support and $65,000 on covid-19 resources.

The funding is to be spent during the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years, Business Manager Jeff McVey said.

“The board is still discussing or considering options for use of some of the grant funding,” he said.

• W.L. Roenigk will remain the district’s transportation provider after the board accepted a five-year proposal from the bus company.

The district’s cost will increase 2% each year, McVey said.

The district received two proposals, from Roenigk and A.J. Myers and Sons, that met all of the district’s terms and conditions, and Roenigk’s cost was lower, McVey said.

New Kensington-Arnold had last extended Roenigk’s contract for one year in August 2o20.

• The board approved an engineering and project management contract with Edward Patton, of Patton Engineering, for the renovation or replacement of four short bridges at Valley Junior-Senior High School.

The work will include structural design, bidding and project management at a cost of 20% of the overall project cost, estimated at about $102,000.

According to McVey, the bridge near the track and the two walking bridges near the gym entrance are 65-to-70 years old and near the end of their life. The steel support beams for the bridge near the track need to be replaced, while the pedestrian bridges need replaced.

The bridge near the football field, shared with Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center, is in good shape and needs limited work such as concrete repair and beam painting, McVey said.

“The concrete support structures for all the bridges is in good shape and additional rock will be added at the base of each support to prevent any soil erosion from the creek,” he said.

• The board awarded a three-year proposal from Waste Management for trash and recycling pickup and disposal.

Waste Management was last awarded a three-year contract in May 2018 at a total cost of about $64,000. The cost for the new three-year contract is about $71,500, an increase of about 11%.

Shank Waste, the only other bidder, gave a price of more than $92,000 for three years, about 29% more than Waste Management.

• The board approved the 2021-22 general operating budget for the Northern Westmoreland Career & Technology Center.

The district’s estimated share of operating expenses is about $518,200, which the district pays in 12 monthly installments.