Central Greene board raises taxes to pay for new $22 million budget
WAYNESBURG – They made spending millions look simple.
In fact, the Central Greene School Board met Tuesday and passed the 2003-2004 tentative general fund budget of $22,109,470 with a tax increase and virtually no comment. In approving the budget, the school board opted to take advantage of a state law that allows school districts to raise the tax rate by 10 percent during the year of a property reassessment.
The tentative budget, which represents a 5 percent increase over last year’s budget of $21,175,000, includes a 1.95-mill tax increase, raising the tax rate to 21.52 mills. A mill is worth $481,780 at the district’s 94.5 percent collection rate, and the district expects to generate an additional $942,410 with the tax hike.
With the increase, a Central Greene taxpayer will pay $215.20 per $10,000 of assessed property value.
Director Joe Ayersman cast the lone dissenting vote, and director Joanne Brookover was absent.
The board also voted tentatively to re-approve the 1 percent earned income tax and the 1 percent realty transfer tax.
Board President George Scott said the only new line items in the budget are an additional librarian and a technical assistant. He said the high school and middle school had been sharing two librarians.
Business manager Walter Stout pointed out that, despite the tax hike, there are two bits of good news. First, the district eliminated the $5 per capita tax. Second, the budget was drawn up without factoring in any state subsidy increase. Stout said it has been the tradition at Central Greene to budget conservatively regarding state subsidy.
The need for additional money is due in part to the continuing decrease in Central Greene’s market value from coal depletion, Stout said. The district is composed of Franklin, Perry, Washington, Wayne, and Whiteley townships, as well as Waynesburg Borough. Real estate is valued at almost $385 million, while coal is valued at about $125 million. This year, for the first time, Stout said, oil and gas have been removed from the market value, decreasing it even more.
The budget is available for public view at the administration building, and the school board must adopt it by June 30, according to state law.
In other business, the board voted 6-1 against adopting the 2003-2004 Greene County Vocational-Technical School’s $2,291,788 tentative budget. Ron Jesso cast the lone yes vote.
Central Greene’s contribution, based on a projected enrollment of 135 students, is anticipated to be a little more than $634,000, after receiving the state vocational education subsidy. The board did not discuss the motion, but after the meeting, Scott said Central Greene’s portion had increased 9 percent, or $57,300, over last year’s contribution. The overall vo-tech budget increased just 4.4 percent, he said.
Stout said the vo-tech budget will pass if three of the county’s five school districts approve it.
The board also conducted the following business:
n Approved a $58,551 contract with Baily Agency for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association package of property, boiler, liability, automobile and criminal insurance.
n Created a Reading First coordinator position at Waynesburg Central Elementary School, provided for by the Reading First grant.
n Renewed the agreement with Nutrition, Inc. of West Newton for food service management for the 2003-2004 school year, at a cost per meal of $1.17, with a loss not to exceed $2,222, guaranteed to the full extent of their management and administrative fees of $35,290.
n Adopted a resolution to incur $218,901 in debt to acquire the equipment necessary to participate in the National School Fitness Foundation Program. Scott said the foundations will reimburse the district.
n Accepted the resignations of John Barbero, high school principal; George Nader, chemistry teacher; Gary Gernert, high school American history teacher; Ralph Adamson, high school biology teacher; Gene Cappellini, elementary music teacher; Carol Kneisley, elementary guidance counselor; and Elva Mooney, middle school cook.
n Hired the following coaches: Sarah Teagarden, head varsity volleyball; Chris McCabe, seventh- and eighth-grade girls basketball; Scott Sakai, seventh- and eighth-grade assistant football; and John VanMeter, seventh- and eighth-grade track.
n Opened the two assistant varsity wrestling coach positions.
Changed their meeting dates to 6:30 p.m. June 17 for the committee meeting and 6:30 p.m. June 24 for the regular meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Jerome Bartley noted that commencement will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, with baccalaureate beginning at 6 p.m.