School district’s budget includes tax hike

Increase blamed on revenue uncertainty

Citing uncertainty regarding district revenue in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Upper St. Clair School Board approved a 0.5012 mill increase in its 202021 proposed final budget at a May 26 meeting.

The $87.5 million budget, if approved in June, would put the school district’s millage at 26.7887. The 0.5012 increase would mean an increase of about $50 per every $100,000 of assessed property value.

“A lot of very challenging decisions have been made to get us to this point, and we still have work in front of us,” said John T. Rozzo, superintendent of the Upper St. Clair School District, who said this year’s budget process has been the most challenging he’s experienced in his 21 years in public education.

“The impact of the pandemic has created great uncertainty around revenue streams as well as substantial revenue losses totaling more than $1 million,” Mr. Rozzo said.

Several positions have been eliminated in the district, including two that were voted on at the May 26 meeting — a custodial manager position and the administrative position of director of advancement.

Additionally, district administrators agreed to take a voluntary pay freeze, and more than $700,000 in cuts have been made to the professional development, technology, operations and supplies budgets.

“These economic pressures are not isolated to Upper St. Clair,” said director of finance Scott Burchill.

The board will vote on a final budget at a public meeting at 8 a.m. June 29 in the board room.

“Our work’s not done yet,” Mr. Rozzo said. “Throughout these next few weeks, we will continue to evaluate revenue projections and analyze the potential for savings while closely monitoring variables such as enrollment, class size, state and federal mandates, students’ needs and other factors that impact student learning.”