Highlands property taxes unlikely to increase more than 4.9% — if at all

Highlands School Board next week will consider limiting any real estate tax hike for next school year to 4.9%.

The board is expected to vote on staying under an inflation-based cap assigned each year to each school district in the state.

The district’s limit is up from this school year’s rate of 4.3%.

Highlands School Board secretary Lori Byron said a 4.9% increase is equal to 1.22 mills.

“That would be the extent that we can raise taxes, should we so choose,” she said.

The move does not mean the district has to raise taxes at all. It’s just a notification to the state that it won’t raise taxes any higher.

The board plans to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the high school library. The meeting also will be accessible on Zoom.

The vote will ensure Highlands meets the state’s Jan. 27 deadline to either make next year’s proposed budget available for public review or limit any impending tax hikes.

Property owners currently pay 24.88 mills. The owner of a home assessed at $100,000, currently pays $2,488.

If the board approved the maximum tax increase next year, that same homeowner would see a $112 increase to $2,600.

Byron said the board typically presents the district’s proposed budget at its April board meeting.

In the Alle-Kiski Valley, Allegheny Valley, Fox Chapel Area and Riverview districts are at the 3.4% base.

New Kensington-Arnold and Apollo-Ridge have a cap of 5%, and Freeport Area’s is 4.5%.

Districts are required to approve a proposed budget by May 31 and a final budget by June 30.