North Hills Hikes Taxes After Disputing Huge Reserve Reports

ROSS TOWNSHIP, PA - North Hills School District increased property taxes Thursday, two days after disputing a report that it harbored more than $13 million in reserves during the 2016-17 fiscal year.

The $80.3 million budget hikes taxes 0.25 mill increase to 18.25 mills. District officials said the expected total revenue of $650,000 from the millage increase will support enhanced safety and security objectives and increased personnel costs related to enrollment increases.

What does the increase mean for homeowners? Property tax bills on a median home in North Hills, valued at $135,500, will rise by $2.82 monthly or $33.88 annually.

"We continue to work diligently to manage our annual operating expenses and responsibly plan for the future in order to minimize the impact on our local taxpayers," David Hall, district director of finance and operations, said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Hall took issue with a study by the Harrisburg-based Commonwealth Foundation that indicated North Hills had a $13.6 million surplus in 2016-17. While that number technically is accurate, Hall said the district actually has in uncommitted reserves is only $4.3 million.

Hall said $5.8 million of that money was earmarked to help the district meet rising increases in its mandated contributions to the Pennsylvania State School Employees Retirement System. Another $3.4 million was allocated to cover district workers' post-employment expenses, such as retirees' medical or life insurance costs. About $230,000 covered supplies stored n district warehouses, leaving $4.3 million in unassigned reserves.

North Hills currently boasts the sixth lowest millage rate among Allegheny County's 41 suburban school districts, and the lowest millage rate among the nine northern area school districts.

Some of the budget’s highlights:

The spending plan funds numerous staff positions including five elementary teachers, one middle school and three elementary computer science/math teachers, four school police officers, a middle school student assistance specialist, three elementary special education positions and increased coverage for secondary German needs.

• $198,192 for a safety and security fund to pay for various enhancements to the district's safety and security programs and procedures as they are identified and approved by the school board.

• $165,000 for installation of additional security cameras and replacement of older security cameras at various buildings.

• $304,493 for new curriculum materials in accordance with the North Hills curriculum adoption cycle. Updated curriculum materials will be used in elementary math, secondary family and consumer science and secondary world languages.

Image via Shutterstock.

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