Hempfield school board approves 2020-21 budget with no tax hike

Hempfield school board members voted unanimously last week to pass the 2020-21 budget that does not raise property taxes.

The $97.3 million budget passed 9-0, holding property taxes at 83.46 mills. This is the second year board members have not raised taxes following five years of gradual increases.

Originally set at $97.67 million, Business Manager Wayne Wismar reduced budget expenditures by more than $497,900 through attrition, replacing five retiring employees with others at “more entry level rates,” eliminating a position, approving a request for leave and not replacing a support position.

Superintendent Tammy Wolicki in May sent a letter to parents stating the budget did not include a property tax increase, adding, “We recognize the hardship that the pandemic has created for our community and have worked to reduce costs without impacting the quality of our programming by attritioning several staff positions through the retirement process.”