No 2020-21 Tax Hike In North Hills School District

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA — The North Hills School District has adopted a 2020-21 budget that does not include a property tax increase. The $84 million spending plan keeps the tax rate at 18.65 mills.

The budget includes no furloughs and does not cut any programs or curriculum. But all district departments have been asked to reallocate their resources and make do with less.

“In what was anticipated to be a difficult budget year even before COVID-19, I am thrilled we
were able to produce a balanced budget without a tax increase," Superintendent Patrick Mannarino said in a district release. "It is the right thing to do for our community members during this extremely difficult time for us all."

In other district news, health and safety adjustments will be made amid the coronavirus outbreak. They include the expansion ofthe district's 1:1 iPad initiative Project Connect to include all students in grades K-12 next school year to ensure everyone has access to a device. That will eliminate the need to share classroom devices.

Additionally, the water fountains in all district buildings and at Martorelli Stadium will be replaced with water bottle refill stations.