Central Greene budget includes tax increase to fund renovations
Taxpayers in the Central Greene School District will see real estate taxes increase to generate revenue for the planned $20 million renovation to Waynesburg Central High School, according to school district business manager Walter Stout. The board voted 6-0 Monday to increase taxes by one-mill. Board members George Scott, Joe Ayersman and John Phipps were absent from the meeting.
Stout said the one-mill tax increase will generate $509,000 to cover debt service on a $9.9 million, 25-year bond issue obtained for a renovation and addition to the high school.
The project is schedule to go out to bid in September with construction contracts to be awarded in late October and construction to begin in December.
Stout previously said the addition to the building will double the space of the existing band/chorus room and house six science classrooms and laboratories.
“Had it not been for the debt service increase, we would not be increasing taxes at this time. It’s strictly for debt service,” said Stout, noting he believes the board is doing the right thing to improve the district.
He said equipment in the 40-year old high school building has reached the end of its life and the climate to pay for the renovation through a tax increase is right.
“The board is simply doing the right thing to take care of the facility, adding to it to reach future needs and doing it while the climate is right,” said Stout.
Stout said coal companies still pay 20 to 25 percent of school district taxes and district officials want to take advantage of that situation before the taxing structure changes.
The former 22.27 tax rate will be bumped up to 23.27 mills under the approved real estate tax increase. Property owners will pay $232.70 for every $10,000 in assessed property value under the new tax rate. That’s $10 more than the amount taxpayers spent under the former rate.
The board also adopted the final 2007-07 budget with a 6-0 vote at the evening board meeting.
The $26.4 million budget reflects a 3.9 percent increase in district-wide spending, partially due to debt service.
According to budget figures, 65.75 percent of expenditures are for salaries and benefits, while the remaining 34.25 percent is reserved for supplies, transportation, debt service and other costs.
The district is projected to spend $2.4 million on debt service this fiscal year, up from $2 million paid in the 2006-07 budget year.
Fifty-four percent or $14.3 million of district revenue is from local sources with the largest portion – $11.8 million – from real estate taxes.
State funding, including the basic subsidy and the accountability block grant, account for 44 percent or $11.7 million of district revenue, while 0.1 percent of the revenue is gained from $30,000 in federal ACCESS funds. The rest amounts to budgetary surpluses from the previous year.
The state and federal contribution to the district has increased from last year’s amounts.
The board also:
– Accepted the retirement of Stout who has 30 and a half years of service as the district’s business manager. Stout will retire Nov. 30. The board also received notification of Robert Born, Sandra Logan, Christine Miller and Carol Yohe’s intentions to retire at the end of next school year.
– Announced the following personnel changes:
Dr. Catherine Butcher, principal at Perry Elementary, will assume duties as district-wide technology coordinator; Debbie Iams will become principal at Waynesburg Central Elementary School (WCES), assuming Butcher’s former role, and Dianne Kayla was appointed as assistant principal at WCES.
Diane Kayla will serve as half-time elementary and half-time high school principal and Scott Headlee, former special education teacher at Margaret Bell Miller Middle School, was hired at a $60,000 annual salary as half-time assistant principal at WCES and half-time high school principal.
– Hired Debra L. Hampson as a district-wide ESL (English as a Second Language) Program Specialist; Janet Menarcheck as a high school French teacher; Suzanne Thornberg as a high school science teacher; Justin Golsky as a high school technology education teacher; Myra Billetz as a second-grade teacher at WCES; Nicole Giachetti as a second-grade teacher at WCES; Kelly Scherrick as a first-grade teacher at Perry Elementary School; Diane Lindley as a long-term substitute music teacher at Margaret Bell Miller Middle School; James Hassett as a long-term substitute fifth-grade teacher at WCES; and Jessica Campbell as a long-term substitute second-grade teacher at Perry Elementary School.
– Hired Aaron Ankrom as boys varsity assistant soccer coach; appointed James Michelucci as volunteer assistant football coach and accepted the resignation of Pedro Sanvicente as head middle school soccer coach and Maxine Borchick as color guard sponsor.
– Purchased a new steamer/convection oven to replace one in the kitchen at WCES that is no longer operational. The board chose to purchase the product from Tri-State Equipment for $12,888, the lowest bid from the three received.
– Renewed a contract with Nutrition Inc. of West Newton for the management of district food service operations during the next school year at a cost per meal of $1.30.
– Scheduled a board committee meeting for July 17 and the regular meeting for 6:30 p.m. July 24 in the administration building.