The Burrell School Board unanimously approved its final budget of $32.7 million for 2021-22 on Tuesday, which includes a tax increase of 3.5%.
For a home assessed at $22,900, the district’s average home tax assessment, the homeowner would pay an additional $80 in real estate tax for next school year, according to Business Manager Jennifer Callahan.
The budget was impacted by a potential substantial loss of more than $412,000 in real estate tax revenue, she said.
The owners of the district’s largest commercial properties have appealed their real estate assessments.
The district and Upper Burrell are fighting a real estate tax appeal from Arconic’s research center. In Lower Burrell, Hillcrest Shopping Center is appealing its property assessment.
In the final budget, expenditures are set at $32.7 million with revenues of just under $32.5 million, leaving a deficit of $213,700 , Callahan said.
The deficit was covered by other district funds.
On the positive side, the district shaved $181,000 from its deficit since the board approved the preliminary budget in May, she said.
Callahan attributed the deficit reduction to a decrease in health insurance costs because of coverage selections and increased employee contributions, a decrease in estimated transportation costs because of a new contract with W.L. Roenigk Inc. school bus company and a decrease in costs for property insurance and workers compensation.
Additionally, revenues were added to the budget from the federal Emergency Connectivity Fund program to pay for laptops and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots and other equipment and services, she said.
Other additional sources of income include receiving additional earned income tax.
