Jan 18, 2018 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – None of the five school districts in Greene County expect to raise property taxes above the inflationary index as the boards plan their 2018-19 budgets.

Each district has either passed a resolution to remain within their allotted Act 1 index determined by the state Department of Education or is expected to at an upcoming board meeting.

Jefferson-Morgan Superintendent Joseph Orr said as a new administrator going through the district’s budget process for the first time, he’s been pleased with how it’s going so far. The district is just starting to plan for next school year.

The school board planned to vote on a resolution at Tuesday’s board meeting to not go above the index, but that meeting was canceled. The board meeting was rescheduled for Monday. At this point, the district does not see a reason to raise taxes at all, he said.

“Typically, we try to stay most definitely within the index,” Orr said of that state law that requires certain exceptions in order to raise taxes above the inflationary rate. “We’re in a good place. So far, we don’t foresee raising taxes. We think we’re pretty solid right now.”

Carmichaels Superintendent John Menhart said the district has not yet come to a decision as to whether raising taxes will be necessary this upcoming year, but “we’re not going to ask to go above the index.”

Each district is required to notify the state before end of January whether it plans to go above the index.

Southeastern Greene business manager Patrick Sweeney said the board plans to vote at its Jan. 22 not to increase above the index, and probably won’t raise taxes at all.

“I don’t foresee us raising taxes, but if we do, it’s certainly not above the index,” he said.

West Greene starts the budgeting process in February, and despite some recent retirements within the district, financials are looking relatively stable.

“We are going to recommend to the board we do not raise taxes this year,” Superintendent Brian Jackson said. “We should be okay.”

Central Greene Superintendent Helen McCracken said the board voted on a resolution to not raise taxes higher than the index at its meeting Tuesday night. However, district officials have not yet decided if they’ll need to raise taxes at all yet. If they do, their only option would be to raise them up to the index.

The district is looking at its financial situation with two large upcoming losses in funding.

Cumberland Mine is beginning to mine coal outside of the district, McCracken said, which will result in a half-million dollar loss. Dana Mining will permanently close its 4 West Mine near Mt. Morris in June, which will also impact the district. McCracken said they do not yet have the specific numbers as to how that upcoming closure will impact funding.