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Southeastern Greene approves spending plan

By Kris Schiffbauer 3 min read

MAPLETOWN – Southeastern Greene School Board has approved a tentative spending plan for 2003-2004 that changes little from this year’s budget, although property owners may expect a change in their taxes. Business manager Leonard Corazzi said the $9,681,414 budget reflects no significant cuts or additions from the 2002-2003 budget of $9,286,931.

“It is close to last year’s,” he said.

Corazzi said he has yet to come up with a total for the projected revenues, and the tax rate is still uncertain.

However, the actual millage rate will change since the county’s reassessment goes into effect with this upcoming budget. Tax bills were based in the past on a property’s assessed value, which was 30 percent of market value, but that calculation has since changed to 100 percent.

The school district must adjust its millage rate to correspond to the change. During a reassessment year, a school district is limited to increasing its local revenue by no more than 10 percent, and Corazzi said the school board has planned to take that 10 percent.

The tax rate under the old system was 91 mills, and Corazzi projected the new rate at around 25 mills if the school board decides to take advantage of the 10 percent increase. He said the revenue and millage figures are not yet final because of unknowns like the state budget and continuing assessment changes like that for Hatfield’s Ferry Power Station.

Under the old assessed-value system with a tax rate of 91 mills, a property owner would pay $273 for each $10,000 in assessed value.

If the district does not seek a local revenue increase due to the reassessment, the revenue-neutral tax rate would be 16.71 mills. In that scenario, under the new market-value system, a property owner would pay $167.10 per every $10,000 in assessed value.

If the district opts to take advantage of the 10 percent revenue increase, a property owner would pay $250 per every $10,000 in assessed value, based on a 25-mill tax rate.

The school board held one budget meeting and talked about the budget during recent work sessions, but Corazzi said there was little room for adjustments in the expenses. He said the board will vote on a final budget May 28. He added that the board has the option of holding another budget meeting, but little in the budget can be changed.

In other business at Wednesday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Philip Savini Jr. gave an update on the concession stand and press box building project.

He said the school district has received donations from the Monongahela Township and Dunkard Township supervisors for their help on demolition of the old building and removal of the discarded materials. He said Duane Yost of Gene D. Yost & Son Excavating & Drilling Inc. will dig the form for the building, pour concrete and do the construction at his cost. Also, Savini said various carpenters and volunteers from the sports varsity and band boosters will complete the carpentry work.

The school district will purchase the building materials and pay for installation of electrical and plumbing systems. Savini said to contract the entire project would have cost the district about $250,000, but the cost is now estimated at $70,000 with the help of the community.

He said the building should be ready for the next school year and the new football season.

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