Norwin OKs 6.8% state set cap on any possible tax hike
Property owners in the Norwin School District will not see a tax increase for the 2024-2025 school year that is more than the state-permitted maximum of 6.8%.
The Norwin School Board this week unanimously adopted a resolution that it would not seek to raise taxes higher than the amount determined by the state. The state’s Act 1 index for Norwin is 6.8% of the current tax rate, resulting in a maximum possible tax hike of 5.8 mills, said Ryan Kirsch, Norwin’s business affairs director.
The resolution passed without any discussion of the Act 1 index.
The school board did not raise property taxes for the current school year, holding the line at 85.8 mills. Of that amount, revenue from 1.2 mills is allocated to the Norwin Public Library, as approved by a voter referendum.
Any tax hike for the 18 properties served by Norwin in White Oak and South Versailles in Allegheny County would be different because the two counties do not have the same property assessment rates. The millage rate for the school taxes for those 18 properties is 12.78 mills, as determined by the state tax equalization board’s valuations of properties.
In other matters, Matt Thomas, one of five new board members, was elected president of the newly constituted school board. Thomas was appointed in October by a panel of Westmoreland County judges to fill the vacancy created by Joanna Jordan’s death in August. He won a four-year term in November’s election.
Tim Kotch Sr., another new board member, was elected vice president.
The other new board members are Bill Bojalad, Heath Shrum and Nina Totin. They were sworn into office Monday, joining incumbents Christine Baverso, Alex Detschelt, Shawna Ilagan and Ray Kocak.
The board decided to hold two meetings a month — a workshop session followed a week later by a legislative meeting — with the exception of no meeting in July and only one meeting in June and December.
Kocak said that by holding two meetings a month, the board members and the public would have more time to review information.
The board previously opted to hold one meeting a month, for several months during the school year.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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