South Fayette tax index released, board could pursue exemptions

In June, the South Fayette School Board made the rare decision to not raise the township’s property tax. It was only the second time in the last 11 years for the rapidly growing school district. It’s unclear whether taxpayers will enjoy such a decision again next year.
During its committee meeting Oct. 17, Director of Finance Brian Tony informed the board of its Act 1 allotted index determined by the state Department of Education for the 2018-19 budget.
If the board decides to increase taxes, it cannot increase the millage rate by more than 3.1 percent. With a millage of 26.7, a 3.1 percent index would increase the tax rate .8277 mills to 27.5277. For every $100,000 in assessed value, property owners would pay an extra $82.77 if the board decides next spring to increase the tax rate up to the index, which Tony said would reflect in an extra $1,449,304 in tax money.
Tony said during the meeting that the board will have to decide by December or January if it wants to apply for exemptions through the PDE to surpass its index for the 2018-19 budget.
“I’d just like to give that to you early so we can start thinking about if we want to pass a resolution in December or January to think about if we don’t want to exceed the index or do we want to get any exceptions that we can qualify for,” Tony said.
Last year, the school district applied and qualified for the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System exception, which they didn’t use by holding at its current millage rate.
To start the Oct. 17 meeting, Joe Brennan, construction manager at PJ Dick, originally said he hopes the construction is finished by the end of the month.
“Right now, I would say they’re near 70 to 75 percent of the punch list completed, leaving really minor items left,” Brennan said.
He then asked Construction Liaison Gene Manzini if there was anything he was missing. Manzini then named several, including a major project to replace 16 doors in the school.
Board President Leonard Fornella asked when the project will officially be finished, and Brennan said he wants it done by the end of October.
“It’s a little aggressive, but that’s when I would want them to get it in,” Brennan said.
Later in the meeting after Brennan had left, Manzini said he was skeptical of the project being completed by the end of the month.
“Again, with those punch list items, I don’t know if they’re going to be finished by the (Oct.) 31st,” Manzini said. “There are quite a few of them that they have to go through.”
Following Brennan’s presentation, the board unanimously voted to replace the carpet in the elementary school’s Arts Alive room. The board had discussed at previous meetings the importance of replacing the worn out carpet, which will cost $9,452. Board members Lena Hannah, Alan Vezzi, Todd Petrillo and William Newcomer were not present for the vote.
“I don’t really like to spend money, but they need it,” said board member Jennifer Iriti.
When asked after the meeting, Fornella said there haven’t been any changes in the timeline for Rondinelli’s replacement. Rondinelli’s retirement is set for Jan. 2, so the board will have to find her replacement by the start of the new year.