Leechburg Area School District members presented a proposed final budget for the 2024-25 school year that includes a tax increase for some residents and a slight decrease for others.
While the district would collect about the same amount of real estate taxes as during the school year that just ended, there will be adjustments to millage rates based on State Tax Equalization Board (STEB) equalization between Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Leechburg Area teaches students from West Leechburg (Westmoreland), and Leechburg and Gilpin (Armstrong).
With STEB rebalancing adjustments, the millage rate will be set at 158.61 for West Leechburg and 68.48 for Leechburg and Gilpin.
That is a 10.4% (14.96 mills) increase for West Leechburg property owners and a 2.9% (2.06 mills) decrease for those in Leechburg and Gilpin compared to current rates.
The budget includes more than $16.5 million in expenditures with about $15.9 million in revenue. District Business Manager Teresa Edinger said part of the district’s general fund balance, with the predicted value of $4.5 million, will be used to close the deficit.
Edinger said $9.9 million of expenditures will be put toward instruction and $5 million will be dedicated to support services. There were also some unexpected expenditure changes since the preliminary budget presentation.
“We’ve had expenditure changes (since January),” Edinger said, citing a $50,000 increase in the cost of employee heath insurance.
The largest share of revenue comes from state sources, accounting for a total of about $8.3 million. Basic Education Funding will produce almost $5 million for the district along with $1.44 million from State Share of Retirement contributions.
The majority of local revenue will be from real estate and Act 511 taxes.
“The (real estate) tax revenue has not increased,” Edinger said, noting it’s still $5.075 million. “We have not asked for an increase.”
A proposed plan to provide limited tax rebates for West Leechburg property owners remains in the budget but could be removed before final passage.
Board members will be voting on the budget at their next meeting at 7 p.m. June 26. Residents can access a link to the budget at leechburg.k12.pa.us.
