Divided North Allegheny School Board Adopts New Budget, Millage Rate

By a vote of six to three, North Allegheny School Directors Wednesday adopted a $131,323,918 budget for the 2013-2014 school year. The board also set the millage rate at 17.4.

The rate is lower than the current 20.92, but considered "revenue neutral" because many North Allegheny properties increased in value after the 2012 reassessments.

Board members Linda Bishop, Libby Blackburn, and Joseph Greenberg voted no.

Bishop argued (see video) that the budget was far from revenue neutral and predicted 50-percent of the district's property owners would see a tax increase because the value of their property went up more than the district average of 25-percent.

Blackburn said (see video) the district spend $122,000,000 this year, and finished with a $4,000,000 surplus. She feared this year's budget of $131,000,000 would lead to another large surplus.

Among those arguing for the budget were School Board Vice President Daniel Hubert, who said (see video) the district needs the additional revenue, in part, to pay for capital improvement too long delayed.

School Board President Maureen Grosheider also supported the budget, saying (see video) the spending plan funds programs and initiatives critical to keep the district moving forward. 

What do you think? Do you support the school board's actions to pass a budget that is roughly $9,000,000 more than was spent in the fiscal year just ending? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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