Budget Talks: North Allegheny School Directors Express Differing Opinions on Raising Taxes

This post was written and reported by Patch writer Akasha Brandt.

Although the North Allegheny School Board will vote on the district budget next week, the  school directors were in disagreement at Wednesday night’s work session meeting over the currently proposed 17.4 millage rate.  

A Lower Millage

School director Libby Blackburn called for a lower rate of 16.9 mills. People that don’t have children may consider moving into districts based on their low millage rate — not the strength of the schools, she said.

Blackburn also doubted director of finance, Michael Hopkins’ projected numbers towards outstanding assessments, saying she believes less people are winning their assessment appeals than previously projected.

“This is our best guess at this point and time,” Hopkins said about the assessment projections, which he said were brought about in a logical and methodical manner.

In order to bring new people into the district, Blackburn said, “I do think we should keep our taxes as low as humanly possible.”

Board member Linda Bishop was absent, but in a statement read aloud to the board by president Maureen M. Grosheider, Bishop also endorsed the idea of a lower millage rate.

Other board members disagreed.

“The other side of that equation is that if we don’t fund education, what will happen to the property values here?” said vice president Daniel E. Hubert.

Director Joseph Greenburg agreed with Hubert that a lower millage rate could be harmful to students in the long run.

“I think it takes a risk with the quality of our district and our programming,” Greenburg said.

2014-15 Budget Shortfall

In fact, Greenberg said if anything raising the millage rate would be better for the district. He said he believed the school district is on a  “dangerous path” to what he forecasts is a potential budget shortfall for the 2014-15 school year.

“What source of confidence do we have that by keeping a flat millage this year that we will have the flexibility next year to fulfill our obligations at that time?” Greenburg asked Hopkins.

“At this time I will say no,” Hopkins replied.

Grosheider reminded the board that though their budget is “revenue neutral” due to higher assessments, some taxpayers will still be paying more this year.

“Although we may feel good about keeping our millage flat this year we may potentially be settings ourselves up for a hard time next year,” Greenburg said.

The board takes a final vote on the budget June 26.

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