May 11, 2016 4 min read

MONESSEN – Monessen School Board’s proposed $15.1 million budget for 2016-17 calls for an increase in spending and no tax increase, but the district business manager said a decision on whether one will be needed has not yet been made.

The budget, which was unveiled at Tuesday’s board meeting and is available for public review, shows a spending increase of $500,000 over this school year’s budget of $14.6 million. The budget will be adopted June 14.

Business manager Jeff Festor said the $15.1 million budget is based on the current 69.9-mill property tax rate, with each mill netting $58,919. Festor said there have been discussions about raising the property tax rate but nothing has been decided.

“The board is still taking everything into consideration. It’s not a yes, not a no. It’s a still trying to decide,” Festor said.

Festor said one of the main reasons for the bigger budget is salary increases, which he said are minor across the board.

The largest reason for the budget increase can be attributed to the district’s contribution to the state’s Public School Employees’ Retirement System. He said the contribution rate for 2016 is 30.04 percent, which increased from 25.84 percent last year.

According to Festor, the district was told by the state Department of Education it would receive a $6.06 million basic education subsidy for the 2015-16 school year. Festor said Gov. Tom Wolf has proposed a $6.4 million basic education subsidy for the district for the 2016-17 school year.

Festor told the board the district has paid off the line of credit it borrowed earlier this year because of the state budget impasse.

The district was approved for $2 million but borrowed just $500,000, which was paid off with interest.

The board also approved the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center general fund budget of $3.2 million for the 2016-17 school year, an increase from $3.08 million this year. The exhibit provided by the CTC shows a 1.1 percent increase in the member district payment. Festor said the projected district contribution is $157,121, a decrease from the $220,496 contribution for this year. Festor said the decrease in district contribution could stem from lower student enrollment or could be a result of the CTC’s efforts to cut costs.

Board Vice President Roberta Bergstedt said the CTC has been doing all it can do to help cut costs, such as combining positions. Bergstedt said the CTC has also added new beneficial programs such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration training, helping students secure jobs after graduation.

“They’re doing a nice job,” Bergstedt said.

Director Maria Scuteri said she hopes that the benefits and opportunities the CTC offers are being put out there. “It is truly an amazing program and offers (students) so many opportunities,” Scuteri said.

Superintendent Leanne Spazak said the CTC has changed its visiting system, allowing students to be more interactive with the different classes at the school during their visit. Spazak said this has resulted in a higher number of students expressing interest in attending the CTC.

The board approved the use of the baseball field for the Monessen Colt Baseball League.

John Swann said he had local teens approach him about starting a league in the community. Swann, who has coached baseball for 25 years, said there hasn’t been a team in the community for six or seven years, so they saw a need for one.

Swann said about 16 boys between the ages of 15-16 are interested in playing. He said he is currently working on the game schedule. Swann said his goal is to help the kids improve their skills and prepare them for the high school baseball team.

Board President Lee Johnson said by approving the use of this field it will give the kids something constructive to do over the summer months. “This will ultimately help our program at the high school,” Johnson said.

The board reappointed Sharon Mauck as board treasurer for a one-year term effective July 1, 2016.

Also Tuesday, the board approved the city’s request to exonerate prior years’ real estate taxes and 2016 real estate taxes for a property at 500 Donner Ave. Bergstedt said city resident Matt Shorraw is working to save this building with plans to turn it into a music center and café.