Unity supervisors express concern over Greater Latrobe’s multimillion-dollar revitalization project, planned tax hikes

When Mike O’Barto learned of Greater Latrobe school board’s multimillion-dollar revitalization plan that will raise taxes through 2039, he said he thought it was “ludicrous.”

The district will proceed with the plan after 19 months of study, review and public comment, with an expected cost between $182 million and $198 million to rebuild and revitalize various district buildings.

O’Barto, chairman of the Unity board of supervisors, and his fellow board members sent a letter Oct. 26 to the school board expressing concern with the decision, as there are “a lot of ramifications,” he said.

“We wrote the letter because we don’t think it’s fair to ask our residents — our taxpayers — to foot the bill (for) something that I don’t think is needed,” O’Barto said.

District property owners can expect tax hikes totaling 24 mills by 2039, and the average taxpayer in the district will see a $648 increase from their current tax bill. Based on the most recent common level ratio of 11%, the average assessed value of a home in Greater Latrobe is about $27,000.

The plan was selected over another option that would’ve maintained the district’s current facilities, increasing taxes 11.25 mills by 2040.

The resolution to move forward with the plans passed 5-4 in a roll call vote. Board President Eric Hauser, directors Heidi Kozar, Rhonda Laughlin, Susan Mains and Michael Zorch voted yes, and Vice President Merle D. Musick, Paul McCommons, Merle L. Musick and Andrew Repko voted no.

O’Barto said he believes the situation isn’t ideal for municipalities like Unity within the school district because it will affect local businesses and families.

“If I’m looking to buy a home in Unity Township, that’s one of the things I’m going to check out — what my taxes are going to be,” O’Barto said.

According to the letter, the Unity supervisors “have always attempted to hold the line on taxes.”

The decision to move forward with the project came on the heels of the school board approving a 3 mill tax hike in June for the 2023-24 budget, which raised the tax rate to 88 mills. However, comparatively, the tax rate in the district is the fifth lowest in the county.

O’Barto said he found out over the summer what the renovation projects would entail, and what piqued his attention were the points raised about unused space and declining enrollment.

The district said the plan will be able to address the 150,000 square feet of unused space it maintains because of the declining enrollment of 800 students over the past 20 years.

The Unity supervisors weren’t consulted ahead of time, and O’Barto said it’s not required.

“But something of this magnitude that’s going to affect our residents, our homeowners … that’s something that I think should’ve been talked about a little bit more — or a lot more,” O’Barto said.

The supervisors failed to receive a response to the letter from the district as of Nov. 1, according to O’Barto.

Greater Latrobe Superintendent Michael Porembka said it is “not appropriate” for him or the board president to comment until they’ve had the opportunity to speak to the board as a whole, which he said won’t happen until Tuesday.

“Serving on the school board is not easy,” O’Barto said, “but I think that the board members that voted for this building project; I think they should’ve listened to some of the common people who are struggling every day — not only to pay their taxes but to put food on their table.”