Brownsville board rejects tax increase
BROWNSVILLE – Although Superintendent Larry Golembiewski recommended a 1-mill tax increase to be reflected in the Brownsville Area School District’s tentative budget, the school board on Thursday refused to pass even a tentative budget with a tax increase. Director John Evans was the only board member to vote in favor of passing the budget with a tax increase, and he said that while he was not necessarily in favor of a tax increase, a tentative budget had to be passed.
The board had the option to change the amount of the tax increase after the public had the opportunity to view the budget for 30 days.
Directors Stella Broadwater, Nena Kaminsky, Sandra Chan, Ellen Rohrer, Rocky Brashear and Ron Dellarose voted against passing the tentative budget with the 1-mill increase. Directors Francine Pavone and Andy Dorsey were absent.
Kaminsky then moved to pass the tentative budget to reflect no increase, and Broadwater seconded the motion. Dellarose voted against that motion but the other board members voted in favor of it, because they said a tentative budget had to be passed. Golembiewski pointed out that after voting to pass the tentative $22,340,852 budget with no increase, the board is now unable to raise the tax rate when the final budget is passed. He called passing the budget with no increase “the most imprudent fiscal decision” the board could make.
Golembiewski said that with the 1-mill increase, the average household in Brownsville could expect to pay an extra $47 per year. He said he considered himself to be a “well prepared” person and he was thinking about the future, when the district would build a new elementary complex. He said it is better to gradually increase taxes than hit the public with a 3- to 4-mill increase later.
“You can guarantee that I will ask for a one-mill increase again next year,” said Golembiewski.
Directors Chan and Broadwater said they voted against the increase because it was not needed this year to stay afloat. The district is now anticipating over $500,000 to come in from Plymouth Park Tax Services, a company who would purchase certain real estate claims or liens within the district, and give the district some of the money they have not received because of delinquent property taxes.
Golembiewski assured the board that he spoke with a superintendent from a nearby school district that had an agreement with the company, and he was told that they received a check within 30 days. Golembiewski said the district assumed no risk of non-payment on the accounts, and he promised that the company would not have any direct contact with individual property owners. He said they work through the Fayette County Tax Collection Bureau and split the rest of the money paid between the firm and the county. Kaminsky and Broadwater voted against forming an agreement with the firm, saying that the board did not know enough about them to make an informed decision.
The budget is available for public review at the district’s business office, located at Hiller Elementary School, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The final budget will be adopted on June 25 at 7 p.m.
The board also voted to solicit proposals for a tax revenue anticipation loan, since Golembiewski explained that while they may not need it, sometimes payroll is due before state subsidy comes in to the district. The loan is only used to make sure costs are covered.
In other matters, the board voted to raise the cost of breakfast and lunch in all the schools by 50 cents. Golembiewski said that while the increase would not completely solve the district’s financial problems in the cafeteria fund, it would cut the deficit in half next year.
All board members voted for the increase in price, since Brownsville was offering the lowest cost in the area. Broadwater and other board members said that the board would still need to look at other ways of improving the situation, and make sure that students get more food for the money.