Jun 21, 2016 2 min read

Bentworth School Board members approved a 3-mill increase in the property tax rate when they adopted the 2016-17 budget Monday.

The bump in millage will generate a projected $124,014 for the $17.3-million spending plan in the fiscal year that begins July 1. The budget doesn’t include any cuts in staff or programs.

Property taxes increased from 123 to 126 mills. Three additional mills translates into about $28 more on the tax bill for the median home in the district, according to budget documents.

Bentworth’s budget for next year is $659,199 larger than this year’s. Most of the increase comes from an increase in state-mandated contributions into Public School Employees’ Retirement System, which funds pensions for school workers. Bentworth will pay an additional $312,976 next year.

“That’s the biggest increase next year, obviously,” said Debra Babirad, district business manager.

The state reimburses districts for roughly half their payments into the system.

Debt service will increase by $170,161. The costs of medical insurance are projected to increase by $97,958.

The district planned to use $60,000 in reserves to balance its budget this year, but Babirad said the district received more than expected in state funds, allowing it to avoid drawing from its fund balance.

She said this year’s budget doesn’t project any use of the reserve fund.

Bentworth has about 1,180 students from Bentleyville, Cokeburg, Ellsworth, North Bethlehem Township and Somerset.