North Hills School Board Increases Taxes, Disagrees on How to Spend Money Raised

North Hills School District property owners’ tax bills will be higher next school year, but they will have to wait until next week to learn how their money will be allocated in the 2011-12 spending plan after school directors failed to adopt a final budget Monday.

School directors approved a 1-mill tax levy raising the district’s real estate tax rate to 20.91 mills with a 5-3 vote but deadlocked 4-4 on the adoption of the $66.7 million budget. They will continue the special budget meeting next Monday.

The increase will raise approximately $2 million and increase property tax bills $109 a year on the median $109,000 home in North Hills. The district is predicting a loss of $1,710,383 in state and federal funds.

“(School directors) recognize they need the action to raise money for the district, but there are questions as to how that money will be distributed,” said Michael Witherel, district solicitor.

Pennsylvania law requires that at least five school directors need to approve a budget by June 30.            

If a spending plan is not adopted, North Hills would be crippled and left with no ability to even pay employees, said David Hall, director of finance and operations.

School directors Thomas Kelly, Robert Barto, Timothy Burnett and Sharon Schrim supported the final budget, while Arlene Bender, Jeff Meyer, Lou Nudi and Kathy Reid opposed it.

Meyer, Nudi and Reid also voted against the millage increase. Edward Wielgus was absent for both votes.

Reid stated she needed more clarification on exactly what the budget cuts and funds.

“I don’t have answers. I could never vote on the budget,” said Reid. “When I vote, I want to know in my heart,” I am doing the correct thing.

For Meyer, a main issue remains the technology budget and $550,000 allotted for the six-year cyclical technology refresh program.

“Can we delay this purchase for another year or cut it in half?” said Meyer.

A total of 723 laptop and desktop computers and mobile devices such as iPads will be purchased with the funds, said Jeff Taylor, curriculum director. The new devices will allow four more junior high classes to go textbook free. 

“Instead of spending thousands on textbooks for one class, you can buy a laptop, get a textbook for free and use it for numerous classes,” said Taylor. 

Cutting technology costs only hinders North Hills students, Burnett said.

“We did that once and we are still paying the price 10 years later.”

Like Burnett, Bender supported technology spending, but said she is having difficulty with some personnel issues that require resolution.

“I need some information. I don’t have it all,” said Bender.“Am I pleased with the budget? No. Some things (that were cut) were very close to my heart.”

In the budget, 25 of 29 retiring teacher positions were cut and operating expenses were slashed $815,019 - more than 1 percent of the current budget. The spending plan expands the district’s Online Academy to junior high and elementary levels and funds the start of elementary math and junior high reading curriculum revisions.

Property owners, who have filed the correct paperwork with Allegheny County, will see a reduction of approximately $125 as part of Act 1 of 2006.

Act 1 allocates gambling dollars to provide property tax relief to those with a homestead exemption.