PENNCREST taxes staying the same

Mary Spicer

Jun. 30, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- SAEGERTOWN -- Residents of PENNCREST School District will not be seeing an increase in their school property taxes for the 2009-10 budget year.

By a 6-2 vote, board members agreed during a Monday-night meeting to a $48.4 million budget that holds the property-tax line steady at 47.57 mills.

Howard Shorts and Lester Lenhart cast the dissenting votes; Jeff Jackson was absent.

"I don't want to raise taxes either," Shorts said before the vote was taken. "But I'd rather pay a little bit more this year than have taxes take everything I've got a couple of years down the road."

The tax bill paid by the owner of a statistically average Crawford county residence in the district, with an assessed value of $27,443, will remain at $1,305.

This is $55 less than the owner of a residence with the median assessed value would be paying if the board had approved the 2-mill increase proposed in the proposed budget passed by the board on May 11.

Although Pennsylvania's state budget, which provides a substantial portion of the district's revenues, is still not in place, board members couldn't wait any longer.

Pennsylvania law requires that all school districts have final budgets in place no later than June 30.

Once the Legislature and governor finally agree on the state's budget, school districts will be able to re-open their budgets to adjust for changes in their estimated numbers, if legislation is passed giving them that opportunity.

Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0341-36133511