Schools

Tax Hike Approved As Part of $82M Budget

This final budget is a decrease from the originally proposed $84 million budget.

The Rose Tree Media School Board unanimously approved the 2013-2014 general fund budget at its Thursday meeting.

The $82,481,722 budget is a decrease from the .

The final budget will bring a tax increase of 1.5 percent for a millage rate of 22.9445, according the district agenda.

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A 1.5 percent increase equates to an annual increase of $68 for the average home assessment of $205,000. This means approximately a $4,600 school tax bill for the year.

April's proposed budget would have brought a 1.7 percent increase, the maximum that school taxes would be able to be raised this year.

Find out what's happening in Mediawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In January, the .

"I think it shows, that we are not a school district that will just take the maximum Act 1 index but will go over our books and only increase taxes to the minimum amount to maintain our current programs and enhance our academic programs, to be the great school district that we are," Bill O'Donnell, the board's finance chairman, said at the meeting.

O'Donnell said the board was able to bring the increase down by not replacing open positions in the district, including one administration position and 7.2 teaching positions that were not replaced.

No academic or extracurricular programs were cut.

How Does it Compare to Last Year?

Last year, residents also saw a 1.7 percent tax increase in the approved $80.3 million 2012-2013 budget. Last year, the 1.7 percent increase meant an annual increase of $75 for the average home assessed at $205,300.

Residents saw .

 


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