Property taxes in the Freeport Area School District set to increase by about 3%

Taxpayers in the Freeport Area School District will be paying about 3% more in taxes in the upcoming school year.

The school board voted Wednesday to increase taxes for district residents living in the Armstrong County communities of Freeport and South Buffalo by 3% and for residents of Buffalo Township, Butler County, by 2.85%.

The increases are part of the new school budget totaling $37.3 million approved by the board.

District Business Manager Brad Walker said that for an Armstrong County homeowner whose property has the average assessed value of $33,975, the increase means an additional $68 added to the tax bill.

He said for a homeowner in Buffalo Township with the average Butler County assessment of $22,140, the increase will raise taxes by just under $123.

The school board approved the budget, 5-3. School directors voting for the budget were Adam Toncini, Gregory Selinger, Melanie Bollinger, Michael Huth and John Haven.

Board members Gary Risch Jr., Christine Davies and Frank Prazenica cast the dissenting votes, while Melanie Zembrzuski was absent.

According to Walker, the primary reason for the increase is deficit spending, as district revenues struggle to keep pace with increasing costs.

“For the past four, going on five years, the district has been operating at a deficit, meaning we have been drawing from the fund balance year after year,” he said. “The increase approved will not stop it unless the state comes up with a better than anticipated funding increase.”

Walker said if there were no tax increase, the district’s deficit would have been $1.3 million.

He said nothing has really been added to the new budget.

“We just about cut (the deficit) in half with what we did,” he said, noting that the deficit is now projected at $773,000.

The district will still likely have to dip into the fund balance to help cover the shortfall. Walker said the current $5.8 million cushion is projected to drop to $5.2 million by next June.

Superintendent Ian Magness said the district’s administration recommended an even greater tax increase to help ease some of the financial pressure. He said that recommendation was to raise the increase to the 5.4% inflation-related ceiling set by the state.

“The pressure on the LEAs (school districts) has never been greater,” Magness said.

He emphasized that the board, district administration and staff continue to strive to reduce costs.

“We’ve cut 10 teachers over the past four years,” Magness said. “We’re not just asking for revenue increases, we’re making cuts that are being felt.”

Davies said her vote was meant as a display of empathy for taxpayers who are also hard-pressed by cost increases in their households.

“I know we need to do it, but I’m concerned about the people who can’t do it,” she said. “I have to acknowledge that.”