Jun 15, 2016 3 min read

MONESSEN – Monessen School Board voted 5-4 Tuesday to approve a $14.9 million budget for the 2016-17 fiscal year that includes an increase in spending, a 2.5-mill tax increase and the furlough of a teacher.

President Lee Johnson, Secretary Cindy Pawelec and directors Donna Fantauzzi and Cheryl Galilei voted against the budget. Vice President Roberta Bergstedt, Treasurer Sharon Mauck and directors Randall Marino, Kimberly Egidi and Maria Scuteri approved the budget. Scuteri was not present at the meeting but was able to participate via phone.

The approved budget shows a spending increase of roughly $300,000 from this year’s budget of $14.6 million. Business manager Jeff Festor said this budget includes a millage rate of 72.4 mills with each mill generating roughly $58,919 in revenue.

Festor said this is the second time the district had to increase real estate taxes in the last five years, with the first increase of 1.9 mills occurring last year. Festor said this millage increase for 2016-17 will result in a $38 tax increase for the average taxpayer within the district.

Festor said their reasons for a spending increase remained unchanged from their preliminary budget. As he stated at last month’s meeting, a major reason is salary increases, which he said are small across the board. He also said the increase can be attributed to the district’s contribution to the state’s Public School Employees’ Retirement System, which increased from 25.84 percent last year to 30.04 percent for 2016.

“We are still hopeful that the state will pass the budget on time. That will help the districts across the commonwealth greatly,” Festor said.

At last month’s meeting, Festor said the district received a proposal from Gov. Tom Wolf for a $6.4 million basic education subsidy for the 2016-17 school year.

In anticipation the state will not pass a budget by the June 30 deadline, the board unanimously approved the application procedure to allow Festor to seek a $2 million tax anticipation note to help cover expenses until tax revenue is collected, if needed.

In a 5-4 vote, the board approved the furlough of one teacher, who was not identified by name, effective at the start of the 2016-17 school year. Dr. Leanne Spazak, district superintendent, said this furlough is because of a decrease in student enrollment.

Spazak said the district ended the school year with 823 students. She said enrollment decreased by 17 percent in the last 10 years and by 7 percent in the last five years.

Spazak said the decision for a furlough was difficult.

“Moving forward, we will do whatever is necessary to sustain,” Spazak said. She also said the district will continue to improve its program.

Galilei, among the four votes opposing the furlough, said, “I can’t justify the furloughs in the district. I think it makes us look foolish to the public.”

The board also voted 5-4 to promote athletic director and sixth-grade teacher Gina Naccarato to the position of assistant principal/athletic director at Monessen Elementary Center for a one-year period effective July 1 at a salary of $75,000.

Bergstedt said Monessen Civic Recreation Authority began its summer feeding program and craft program, serving 47 students so far. “It’s going really well and we project that there will be more,” Bergstedt said.