Jun 3, 2014 2 min read

Homeowners in Washington School District will receive a slightly larger property tax break in the next school term.

Sixty houses in the district no longer qualify for the homestead exemption, which is a real estate tax savings under the district’s pool of money collected from Pennsylvania casinos to fund the program, said Rick Mancini, director of school district operations.

“That’s good news for our property owners,” Mancini said.

In order for a property to qualify for the exemption, a house has to be its owner’s primary residence. The drop in eligible properties means the 60 houses are now either being rented or have been converted into apartments, Mancini said. There are 2,563 property owners who qualify for the exemption.

This tax credit will be $440 per house, $13 higher than it was last term, he said.

During a school board meeting Monday, the board adopted a balanced 2014-15 budget of $25.5 million that does not include a real estate tax increase. The district managed to save some money through retirements, Mancini said.

The tax rate remains at 133 mills. The district will receive $23.3 million in state and local taxes.

Salaries will cost the district $11 million, with the payroll for teachers set at $7.1 million. The district also expects to end the term with a surplus of $937,719.