West Leechburg residents discuss what to do about repeated Leechburg Area tax increases

West Leechburg residents will sign a petition asking the Leechburg Area School District not to raise their property taxes this year and will look into the option of potentially being absorbed into Allegheny Township.

These are some of the solutions borough residents came up with to address an ongoing taxing situation at the district.

Tammy Jo Capozzoli of West Leechburg organized a residents-only meeting Wednesday night at the borough fire hall.

She was motivated by the fact the school board voted to approve a preliminary 2020-21 budget that includes yet another tax increase to West Leechburg residents. At least 125 people came to the meeting.

“We are here tonight as a community to gauge what you as residents want,” Capozzoli told the crowd. “This is just for educational (purposes) and to get us moving toward a better future.”

The board’s preliminary budget called for a 6.7% tax increase in West Leechburg and no increase to Leechburg and Gilpin.

Because Leechburg Area spans two counties, a complex formula intended to equalize taxes is used.

School board President Neill Brady said concerns about the tax increase influenced the board to discuss other budget options. One option would be to decrease the amount of local revenue the district would receive by about $50,000. Local revenue includes real estate taxes.

In that scenario, taxes for West Leechburg would increase by about 5.45 mills, and taxes for Leechburg and Gilpin would decrease by roughly 1.84 mills.

That means homeowners in Armstrong County would owe roughly $1,966, about $50 less a year, and homeowners in Westmoreland County would owe $2,518, about $100 more a year.

Business Manager Brad Walker said the reason taxes would still increase in West Leechburg has to do with the tax equalization formula.

No one from the school board was invited to the meeting, nor was district Superintendent Tiffany Nix. Brady said there wouldn’t be anything for school directors to address there. Nix didn’t respond to requests for comment.

“It’s up to the people to do what they want,” Brady said. “We’ve gone over our possibilities that we can do with the budget, and they’re holding a meeting as just concerned citizens. I understand.”

Asked how many people would be interested in a formal analysis and evaluation that would show the outcome of a merger with Allegheny Township, a majority of the audience raised their hands.

“I think if we could have that done; information is key here. Knowledge of what we’re doing,” Capozzoli said. “I think the more we know we make a better, informed decision.”

Another option to alleviate the tax burden would be for West Leechburg to become part of the Kiski Area School District.

West Leechburg Council member Matthew Grantz said two other Pennsylvania communities sued to leave their districts and were granted permission to do so from Commonwealth Court. Those cases, Grantz said, could potentially set precedents for the borough.

“In either of these options, at some point, the community ends up getting a lawyer and doing something, whether it’s trying to get rid of the town or you’re trying to sue to leave the school district,” Grantz said.

Both options could take years, officials warned. But they indicated the problem isn’t going away. Taxes likely will continue to increase year after year based on the taxation formula used by the district.

“The issue is: 10 years from now, do we want to be mad that Leechburg has again raised our taxes, or do we want to be almost at the end of leaving and not having to deal with their taxes?” Grantz said.

State Rep. Joseph Petrarca, who represents West Leechburg, said he would help with whatever step the borough decides to take.

“I would love to see something work out where we can do something to change this,” said Petrarca, D-Washington Township.

Petrarca said it’s important for residents to pay attention to the school board elections and what candidates’ thoughts are on certain issues, as well as what districts are spending money on.

No one from the Leechburg Area School board lives in West Leechburg.

“I would say get involved, speak up on some of these things, because when these districts do these certain things they have to be paid for,” Petrarca said.

The school board will vote on the final budget at its June 24 meeting, which will be held via Zoom.