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South Fayette School District wants to ‘hold the line’ with taxes

By Jacob Calvin Meyer staff Writer jmeyer@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
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The South Fayette School Board has raised real estate taxes in the township nine of the last 11 years.

A rapidly growing township combined with keeping the standard as a top school district in the state led to the school board asking for a little bit more from taxpayers each year.

This past June, though, the school board made the rare decision not to raise taxes for the 2017-18 year after the district held multiple public meetings and members from the community were concerned about the increasing tax rate.

Superintendent Bille Rondinelli said during the board’s meeting Nov. 28 that the district took in the community’s concerns last year, and she believes the district will be able to avoid a tax hike again.

“We work very hard to hold the line, particularly with some of the meetings that were held last year and some of the concerns from the community,” Rondinelli said. “At this point in time, we are believed to be able to do that. … It is our recommendation right now and it is going to be our recommendation to the administrators that we are going to work to hold the line.”

In a step in that direction, the board voted to not pursue Act 1 exemptions to go above the inflationary index of 3.1 percent, or .8277 mills. During the board’s meeting on Nov. 21, Director of Finance Brian Tony recommended to the board not to pursue exemptions.

“After the positive result from the 16-17 year, I’m comfortable saying that we do not need to exceed the index,” Tony said.

A week later, the board voted unanimously to void its chance to apply for exemptions, meaning it cannot raise taxes higher than .8277 mills for the 2017-18 budget.

With a millage of 26.7, the board is only permitted by the state to increase the tax rate up to 27.5277 for next year without the exemption.

“We’re hoping to hold the line going forward, but we’re just starting the process for the 2018-19 school year budget,” Tony said. “Passing this is the first step, so we will not exceed the index.”

Board member Todd Petrillo said after the Nov. 28 meeting that he’s hoping next year’s budget has the same result as the past one.

“Not raising taxes is the goal every year,” Petrillo said. “We were happy to do it last year. It’s the goal every year.”

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