Brownsville school board to vote on modest tax increase
BROWNSVILLE – At the superintendent’s recommendations, the Brownsville Area School Board will vote Thursday on passing a tentative budget of $23,000,000 to include a one-mill tax increase. Superintendent Larry Golembiewksi told the board that the district will need the increase to pay for debt service, and said that if they don’t pass a one-mill increase now, they will have to hit taxpayers with a larger increase down the road.
A one-mill increase would set the tax rate at 12.08 mills in Fayette County and 73.28 mills in Washington County.
With the tax rate of 12.08 mills, a person in Fayette County with $50,000 in property would pay $604 per year in taxes.
Golembiewski said that he feels it is most responsible for the board to increase one mill each year to keep a balanced budget and avoid larger tax increases later.
“I will ask for one mill as long as I’m here,” Golembiewski said.
In an effort to collect delinquent taxes from the district’s residents, Golembiewski introduced Larry Marsh from Xspand Plymouth Park Tax Services. The company offers to buy properties within the district that would be going up for judicial sale to collect delinquent taxes. They would pay the district $531, 000 in advance, and collect a portion of the taxes for themselves and the county. Marsh explained that the district would not assume any of the risk for non-payment. Golembiewski said that although this would only bring money to the district for this year, it would be a great help since the district has to pay debt service in November.
“I saw this as a way for the district to get $500,000 with no strings attached,” Golembiewski said.
The board will vote on hiring the company Thursday.
Also on Thursday’s agenda is approval of the high school graduates, workshops and field trips, and the appointment of aides for the district’s summer programs. The board is also considering the addition of middle school girl’s softball as a sport in the district, and Director Andy Dorsey said he would like to pursue making it available since parents have approached the board expressing interest in the sport.
Golembiewski said he would recommend adding $5,000 to the budget to pay for the sport if it is approved. Athletic Director Scott Roebuck said the board and the athletic department would have to determine a location for the girls to practice since the middle school gym is already used for so many other sports.