McGuffey adopts budget, raises taxes by 2.95 mills
CLAYSVILLE – McGuffey School District Board of Directors adopted a final balanced budget for 2015-16 school year of $30,542,373, raising taxes by 2.95 mills.
The increase brings the total millage to 126.15.
The district’s median home, with an assessed value of $11,100, would see about a $33 increase in taxes per year, or about $2.75 per month. One mill brings in about $78,000 for the district, which has about 1,700 students.
“I’m glad our budget is passed,” said President Carl Group.
Group said it was difficult for the district to plan because the state budget has not yet been finalized. He praised administration for not cutting programs.
Frank Archambault was the only member to vote against the budget. He declined to give a reason.
Members Darrin Iams and Thomas Lane were not present.
Scott Burchill, business administrator, said obligations to the Public School Employees’ Retirement System are a big cost for the district.
He said, while salaries continue to rise, the district only increased salary expenditure by one percent since the 2009-10 school year through attrition.
“We haven’t eliminated programming,” said Dr. Laura Jacob, assistant superintendent. “We have utilized our current staff in a better manner.”
Another large expenditure is the cost of educating the district’s approximately 75 charter students. Cybereducation costs about $10,000 per typical student and about $20,000 per special-needs student.
Burchill estimated cybereducation uses 10 mills of the district’s budget.
McGuffey School District encompasses Blaine, Buffalo, Donegal, East Finley, Morris, South Franklin and West Finley townships and Claysville and Green Hills boroughs.