Chartiers Valley School District's budget holds the line on taxes

Property owners in the Chartiers Valley School District will pay the same in school taxes for the upcoming year.

The $78.4 million budget, approved by the school board June 25, keeps the millage rate at 20.1909 mills, signaling no tax increase.

Owners of a home in the district valued at $200,000 would pay $4,038 annually with the 20.1909 millage rate.

“Chartiers Valley, like many other school districts, have felt the inflationary pressures for our operational costs and we are not immune to this change — as everyone at home has felt this impact in their daily lives,” board President Darren Mariano said. “Financially, Chartiers Valley, for the past six years, has raised taxes to meet operational costs, but we cannot continue at the current pace and taxpayers cannot be expected to bear the responsibility of some of the highest operational costs as a local school district. We must learn to live within our means.”

To fill a deficit, the district refinanced two bonds and used debt stabilization and general fund balances.

Voting in favor of the budget were Mariano, Louise Huehn, Jeff Choura, Ed Brosky and Herb Ohliger; opposed were Mitch Montani, Megan Sexton and Lisa Trainor. Kate Drury was absent.

“I voted against the budget because I don’t think it addresses the district’s difficult financial situation in either the short term or long term,” Montani said. “The district has a budget deficit of nearly $2 million, which will be filled entirely through the district’s fund balance. It doesn’t increase revenues or cut costs. It simply hurts our nest egg. In my view, this is not a sustainable solution.”

The board also approved the district’s homestead and farmstead property tax exclusion. Property owners who qualify will receive a reduction of $156.30 in school taxes, a 20% increase from last year.