Upper St. Clair School Board approves budget with tax increase
The Upper St. Clair School Board adopted the 2023-24 final budget totaling $100,255,600 during its June 19 meeting. The budget includes a 3.75% millage increase of 1.0711 mills, resulting in a millage rate of 29.6339 mills.
Early in the budgeting process, the school board approved a resolution limiting any possible 2023-24 tax increase to within the inflationary index determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). The resolution capped any tax increase at 4.7% or 1.3424 mills; the approved spending plan is below that limit.
The annual tax impact of the increase on a $250,000 home, the average assessed home in Upper St. Clair, is $267.78 or $22.31 per month. (To calculate the impact on a specific property value, multiply the property’s county assessed value by 0.0010711.)
Throughout the 2023-24 budget process, district leaders focused on three primary objectives: deliver extraordinary learning experiences for students; balance the needs of the school district while recognizing the fiduciary responsibilities to the community; and remain cognizant of the interdependence of all aspects that directly and indirectly affect students’ school experience.
Upper St. Clair’s budget is primarily funded by local taxpayers – amounting to more than 78% of all district revenues. State funding totals approximately 21%. Federal revenues account for less than 1% of the district’s funding.
District leaders provided an overview of several external factors that are impacting the 2023-24 budget, including uncertainties regarding Allegheny County’s common level ratio. The common level ratio is a mathematical calculation that measures how the county’s base-year assessments compare to new assessments determined by recent sales. Intended to provide greater fairness to property owners, the common level ratio recently dropped from 81.1% to 63.5% for 2022 appeals and 63.6% for 2023 appeals.
“With nearly 80% of the district’s funding coming from local taxpayers, this change could have a significant impact on the district’s revenues,” Scott Burchill, director of business and finance, said. “In previous years, the district experienced revenue growth from real estate annually. However, there is no growth built into the 2023-24 budget to offset the uncertainty surrounding the common level ratio.”
Salaries and benefits account for nearly 80% of the district’s budget. During the 2022-23 fiscal year, there were 22 retirements throughout the district, 11 of which were teachers.
“We will experience some cost-savings by replacing top-step employees with teachers who are on the beginning steps of the salary schedule,” said Dr. John Rozzo, superintendent.
Five operations/administrative positions will be eliminated and/or remain vacant for the 2023-24 school year. All position eliminations are attritional cuts and include a custodial position, operations coordinator and transportation manager. The vacant assistant superintendent and custodial manager positions will remain unfilled for the upcoming fiscal year. The savings from these five positions will help to offset a 15% increase – nearly $1 million – in medical insurance costs.
Capital improvements are planned at all six schools throughout the summer. Projects include a new roof and water heating system at the high school, safety enhancements at all buildings, new HVAC control systems at all three elementary schools, insulation and ductwork repair and replacement at Boyce and Fort Couch middle schools, and additional plumbing repairs at the high school.
The 2023-24 final budget is available on the district’s website and at the district’s administration building, 1775 McLaughlin Run Road.