Jun 27, 2013 3 min read

GRAYSVILLE – West Greene School Board adopted the district’s 2013-14 budget Thursday, keeping the property tax rate at 19.5 mills.

The budget of $15,128,302 is about $300,000 less than the current budget, primarily as a result of the restructuring of accounts, said district business manager Shannon Rutan.

The budget funds all existing programs. The one area in which the district saw a major increase in costs was in its contribution to the state retirement fund, Rutan said.

The district has not raised taxes since 2002. Two board members voted against the spending plan, Regina MacDowell and Joe Coss; board members Shelia Simms and Kelly Loughman were absent.

The board also approved the homestead and farmstead resolution. Property owners eligible for the homestead or farmstead exception will be able to subtract $83.51 from their property tax bill this year.

In other business, the board approved a resolution to offer a five-year real estate tax abatement for new construction involving business, commercial, agricultural and industrial properties.

The district now offers a three-year tax abatement on residential properties and had been asked also to consider the abatement for commercial properties, which is offered by most municipalities and school districts.

The abatement will be retroactive to Jan. 1 to cover the complete tax year.

The board voted down a motion to pay $8,750 to the MacBracey Corp. which provided chairs for renovations to the middle-senior high school auditorium, until problems the district has had with some of the work is addressed.

Superintendent Thelma Szarell reported the Greene County Planning Commission had approved plans for the construction of the elementary center. The district now has all the permits and approvals needed for the projeect and work can begin, she said.

The district’s architect, Kevin Hayes of Hayes Design Group, said earlier this week that work could begin next week.

The board authorized the Hayes Design Group to review the structural stability of existing masonry partition walls between classrooms on the orange floor of the south academic wing and, if needed, to design bracing to ensure their proper stability. The work will be done at a cost not to exceed $1,000.

The board granted tenure status to four employees. They are Matthew Cross, Adrienne Day, Ashley Dworek and Andrea Funyak.

The board also approved Mattison Evans’ participation as an individual in girls’ tennis for the fall and WPIAL spring sports season. Wendy Saul will serve as an unpaid volunteer coach for Evans who will represent the school district in competition.

The board approved Ron Todd and Ryan Crouse as paid, assistant varsity football coaches. It also approved Eric Bedilion, Brian Jackson, Allen Miller, Ryan Reed and Steve Raber as unpaid volunteer assistant football coaches.