×

East Lycoming adopts budget with 3.37-percent tax hike

HUGHESVILLE — The East Lycoming School Board voted to adopt the 2017-18 proposed final general fund budget at its meeting Tuesday night.

The $25,469,078 budget brings with it a 0.44-mill increase, which is 3.37 percent over last year’s millage and translates into homeowners paying $44 more per $100,000 of a property’s assessed value.

With the increase, the proposed local taxes for the school district for next year will be 13.50 mills for real estate taxes, 1.20 percent for the earned income tax and 0.50 percent for the real estate transfer tax.

The board attributed the need for the increase in taxes to three main budget items. They are salary and wages, health insurance and the Pennsylvania Public School Employees Retirement System.

In relation to the budget, the board approved a 2017 Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion resolution, which pertains to the Homeowner Tax Relief Act that allows school districts to reduce property taxes for qualifying homeowners.

Prior to the business portion of the meeting, Superintendent Michael Pawlik voiced his concerns about possible cuts in funding for education that were revealed in the proposed federal budget released Tuesday. Pawlik told the board that the plan to defund Title 2 programs, which deal with class size reduction, is of particular concern.

He stated that the district has worked to get kindergarten class size as small as possible and that the increase in the number of classes to do that was because of federal funding.

Another issue, according to Pawlik is the reduction in Medicaid benefits in the proposed budget. He said there are a number of students in the district whose support system, such as aides and personal nurses, depends on federal money. If federal funding ends, it would become the district’s responsibility to provide these services.

“Keep an eye on what’s going on on the federal front,” he advised board members.

In other business, the board approved:

• A general construction contract for the Hughesville Jr./Sr. High School secure entry bid to Best Quality Builders Inc., of Muncy, for $79,812. This is dependent on the receipt of bonds, insurances and all necessary government approvals.

• Appointment of Michael Mamrak to the district’s board member vacancy for Hughesville Borough, Region 1.

• Hiring John Martin as a secondary business computer information technology teacher (temporary professional) for the next school year at a salary of $54,075.

• Hiring Sara Jordan as a part-time support aide at the high school at a rate of $10.21 per hour for three hours per day.

• The purchase of 1,100 Hewitt Packard Chromebooks at a cost not to exceed $206,745 to replace iPads in grades 4-12.

• A list of graduating seniors, pending final verification of the successful completion of all requirements. The district’s graduation is June 2.

• Accepting the retirement resignation of Judy Baggett, effective June 6.

The next meeting of the board will be at 7 p.m. June 13 in the board room.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today