As revealed in the article “Leechburg Area considers $15.3M budget with tax increase for West Leechburg residents” (May 18, TribLIVE), the Leechburg Area School Board has found yet another way to raise taxes on the residents of West Leechburg.
They are, as usual, blaming the obscure State Tax Equalization Board for this tax increase. This ignores the fact that their own budget presentations, available on the district’s website, show one of their options did not raise taxes in West Leechburg at all and actually cut taxes for the other two communities in the district.
One would think leaders of the school district with the highest tax rate in both Westmoreland and Armstrong counties would make some effort to rein in its out-of-control taxes, especially in the middle of a pandemic and economic crisis.
Matthew Grantz
West Leechburg
The writer is a West Leechburg councilman.