Greater Latrobe OKs 2% tax hike, realigns administrators

Property owners in the Greater Latrobe School District will see a 2% hike in real estate taxes for the coming school year as the district balances a $57 million budget in the face of revenues that have taken a hit during the covid-19 pandemic.

The school board on Tuesday approved a 1.75-mill tax increase, to 84 mills, while also passing the final 2020-21 spending plan.

The increase will add $47 to the average homeowner’s tax bill.

The district’s goal was not to raise taxes, according to business administrator Dan Watson. “When we started seeing the impact that covid-19 was having on all of our (tax) collections, unfortunately, we had to make a tough decision,” he said.

Greater Latrobe is projecting a 4% loss in local revenue for the coming year, totaling more than $1.3 million, as a result of the pandemic’s effect on the economy.

Regular state subsidies for the district are expected to increase by just $220,000 , but Watson suggested tapping $230,000 in federal covid-19 stimulus funds and dipping into the district fund balance for about $310,000 to help cover the revenue shortfall.

To help residents pay the school tax during tough economic times, the board extended the period for paying without a late penalty until Dec. 31. It also agreed to “piggyback” on Pennsylvania’s property tax rebate program, adding 5% more to the amount an eligible homeowner receives through the state program.

The district’s rebate will be available to senior citizens or the disabled with a household income of no more than $35,000. It will be capped at $32.50.

Watson noted the district was able to hold expenditures at the same level as in 2019-20 thanks to the expected infusion of pandemic stimulus dollars and a one-time reduction of $720,000, or 15%, in the district’s debt service.

By freezing all non-essential expenditures once the pandemic arrived, the district was able to cut more than $1.5 million from a preliminary version of the new budget, Watson said.

Staff realignment

The school board also approved a realignment of administrative staff that should result in a net savings of up to $30,000, according to Watson.

Robin Pynos is leaving the position of assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and technology for a new job outside of the district. The board plans to hire a new principal at Mountain View Elementary to replace Becki Pellis, who is assuming the role of director of curriculum, technology and instruction.

Pellis “has worked with Robin for years in technology,” attending many of the same conferences on the topic, said Superintendent Georgia Teppert.

New responsibilities were approved for two senior high principals. Jon Mains, who had overseen grades 11 and 12, will now have overall responsibility for grades 9-12. Chad Krehlik, who had focused on grades 9 and 10, will serve as assistant senior high principal.

“Everything will work better and will benefit our students and our faculty as a united group having one 9-12 principal with two assistants,” Teppert said.

Margy Mears was named coordinator of transportation and facilities, reflecting additional responsibilities she has taken on in developing the 2020-21 bus schedule.