Peters School Board to seek tax increase: O-R 11-22-11

11/22/2011 11:13 AM

Peters Township residents could face a tax increase, as the the Peters Township School District finds itself with a deficit of about $1.7 million dollars.

The school board is expected to pass its preliminary 2012-13 budget during a special meeting Dec. 5 that will include a tax increase of slightly less than 3 mills.

The final budget is not required to be passed until June 30, however, districts that anticipate raising taxes above a pre-determined index, must pass a preliminary budget, then request permission from the state Department of Education to raise taxes above the index. In Peters Township, the index is an increase of 1.7 percent. The tentative budget calls for an increase of about 3 percent.

If the state does not grant permission to exceed the index, the district can appeal to the local courts.

Dan Solomon, district business manager, said the deficit is due, in part, to an increase in pension contributions.

Currently, school taxes in Peters are 96.51 mills. With the projected increase, the rate would be 98.15 mills, still, Solomon said, one of the lowest in Washington County. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.