Board approves proposed budget calling for 0.25-mill tax increase

Climbing enrollment and additional security could mean a tax increase for residents in the North Hills School District.

The school board on May 3 approved an $84.1 million proposed final budget that increases taxes by a quarter of a mill to 18.25 mills.

The increase in taxes on a home valued at $135,500, the median home value in the district, would be $33.88 per year.

Each mill brings in $2.6 million.

“We continue to work diligently to manage our annual operating expenses and responsibly plan for the future in order to minimize the impact on our local taxpayers,” said David Hall, director of finance and operations.

District officials said North Hills has the sixthlowest millage rate in Allegheny County, and the lowest among the nine northern area school districts.

The final budget will be voted on during the June 7 meeting.

New positions in the proposed spending plan include five elementary classroom teachers, one middle school and three elementary computer science/math teachers, four school police officers, one middle school student assistance specialist and three elementary special education positions. The budget also includes: • $198,192 to pay for various enhancements to safety and security programs and procedures

• $165,000 for installation of additional security cameras and replacement of older cameras

• $304,493 for new curriculum materials in elementary math, secondary family and consumer science and secondary world languages

• $14,908 for secondary health and physical education equipment. Next year, students can choose new courses such as Outdoor Adventures; Foundations of Yoga, Pilates and Mindfulness; Personal Fitness; and Sports Officiating and Principals of Coaching.

North Hills also will transfer $1.2 million from the fund set aside to pay for increases in the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System to the budget to pay for increased retirement costs. Also, $2.5 million will be transferred from the fund balance to the capital projects fund to cover the cost of replacing the roof at the high school.