Schools
Proposed Parkland Tax Hike will Decrease Slightly
Parkland School District officials say the proposed final 2013-14 school budget will carry a tax increase of less than 2.5%. The proposed final budget will be introduced to the school board on May 21.
The Parkland School District will introduce its proposed final 2013-14 budget at its May 21 meeting and district officials say the anticipated tax increase will fall below 2.5 percent.
Business Administration Director John Vignone said the tax increase will "crack the 2.5 percent mark" and fall somewhere between 2.4 percent and 2.5 percent.
The proposed $144 million budget, which is a 4.36 percent increase over 2012-13, carries a 2.73 percent tax increase totaling 13.94 mills, but ongoing work by district officials continues to trim the hike.
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Vignone, in a Tuesday morning school board committee meeting, said the anticipated the decrease is due to additional retirements and their associated costs, such as salary, benefits and pensions.
Vignone also said the settling of Lehigh County property reassessment appeals will also help.
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He added that the school district has received its gaming-related monies from the commonwealth. District homeowners who are approved by Lehigh County for a Homestead/Farmstead exclusion will receive $105 in school tax relief.
Adoption of the final 2013-14 school budget is scheduled for June 25.
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