Charleroi board opposes tax legislation
Charleroi Area School Board said no Tuesday to the proposed Property Tax Independence Act, passing a resolution opposing Senate Bill 76.
The bill pending in the state Legislature would eliminate property taxes and fund schools through an increase in sales tax from 6 to 7 percent and an increase in personal income tax from 3.07 to 4.95 percent.
The resolution states an increase in sales tax and state income tax will result in local funds instead of being sent to Harrisburg.
With funding out of the local school board’s hands, the state Legislature would determine how the money would be distributed.
The elimination of property taxes would create a possible funding loss for federal and state mandates, such as special education costs, pension costs, charter school costs and Keystone graduation requirements.
The resolution states the implementation of this new formula would result in “devastating cuts” to school programs.
Superintendent Ed Zelich said the Property Tax Independence Act would actually cost taxpayers more.
He added in state Senate District 46, which encompasses most of Washington and Greene counties, taxpayers in 21 of 23 school districts would pay more in federal and state taxes.
The board also heard the 2017-18 school calendar removes snow make-up days from spring break. Spring break will be March 29 through April 3.
Snow make-up days can be used on Presidents Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. If additional days are needed, they will be added to the end of school.
School directors felt that families need vacation time without worrying about students missing school, Zelich said.
The start of the school year will also made easier for students.
“The first few weeks of school will not be full weeks and it will help ease the students into the school year, especially the kindergarten students,” said Zelich.
The first day of school will be Aug. 21 and the last day of school will be June 5.