Letter to the editor: No tax hike in Yough School District

Members of the Yough School Board would like to respond to Sewickley Township resident Leonard Minkus’ letter “Where is tax relief?” (Sept. 13) in which he says he now has to save an extra $50 a month to pay his tax bill — a tax raise of $600 per year, according to his comments.

The Yough School Board has not raised taxes since 2017. Only two school districts out of 17 can say that in Westmoreland County, and Yough School District is one of them.

The tax increase referred to by Minkus came from Westmoreland County, not the school district, and it was for $15.56 more than his county bill from the previous year.

During the budget season, the board had a projected budget deficit of $615,000 for this school year. Instead of raising taxes, we cut the budget by $615,000 and lived within our means, similar to what is being asked of the residents in our community.

We understand our residents are struggling, as we all are within the midst of a pandemic. Raising taxes is the last thing we, as school board members, wanted to approve. Raising taxes would only make life more difficult for our families in the Yough School District.

Jared P. Filapose

Sewickley