Franklin Regional's 2021-22 budget includes maximum allowed tax hike

Franklin Regional school directors approved a 2021-22 budget with a tax hike of just over 3 mills Monday night.

The $63.6 million budget includes $375,000 from a district fund dedicated to state-mandated pension contributions, and just over $1 million from a fund being used to gradually phase in debt service related to the Sloan “elementary campus” project.

It also includes a one-time infusion of $1.3 million from the federal American Rescue Plan.

The budget raises the school district’s tax rate by 3.01 mills to 103.61 mills. That is the maximum hike allowable according to the state’s Act 1 tax index, and the fourth year the district has done so.

Both currently and including the 2021-22 hike, FR’s property tax rate is third highest in Westmoreland County, behind rates for West Leechburg (136.59) and Loyalhanna (110.95) residents.

Board member Bill Yant cast the lone vote against the budget, which was approved 7-1. Board member Jane Tower was not present.

“I’m troubled by the fact we’ve taken the position that, if the state’s (education) funding is uncertain, that we should try to make it up on the backs of our taxpayers,” Yant said. “I think if we don’t have the money, we should look to cut costs.”

A Commonwealth Court lawsuit seeking to reform the state’s public school funding is set to go to trial this fall. District Finance Director Jon Perry said the district could stand to lose up the equivalent of 8 mills in revenue depending on the lawsuit’s outcome.

The estimated value of a mill in the coming school year is $353,000, Perry said.

The board does not meet in July. Public board meetings will resume in August at the Murrysville municipal building. The Aug. 2 and 16 meetings will be broadcast live on Comcast local access Channel 19, and posted later to the district’s YouTube channel.