MANDATA - It took three attempts, but the Line Mountain School Board finally agreed on a property tax increase as part of the 2011-12 budget.
"This area cannot afford to keep raising taxes. It'll drive people out of the district," said Director Charles Sample, who remained the lone hold-out on the increase at Tuesday night's board meeting.
Sample, as well as Directors Lawrence Neidig and Lamont Masser, voted against a tax increase of 8 mills and 7.42 mills. In order to pass the budget, five directors had to vote in its favor.
"My limit is six (mills). That's what I'm sticking with. It's been a horrible budget year for the business manager," said Neidig, who eventually voted in favor of 7 mills.
Director Dennis Erdman scolded the board members who complained Tuesday about raising taxes, yet voted several years ago against consolidating the elementary
schools in Dalmatia, Leck Kill and Trevorton, which would have saved the district money.
"It irritates me. Emotion superseded what reality was," he said.
With the increase, the district's total millage is 71 mills, which equals $7.10 for every $100 of assessed real estate value. Superintendent Dave Campbell said the district website has a millage calculator for homeowners to determine the impact on each of their assessed values.
Neidig and Masser made and seconded the motion to accept the tax increase as well as the budget. It passed 6-1. Directors Bryan Buddock and David Scott Bartholomew were absent.
The budget was approved with revenue of $16,697,257 and a cut of seven non-renewable teacher contracts, which eliminates four elementary classroom positions, a high school social studies position, a music position and a physical education position, the assistant principal position, the AD/coordinator of student activities and a high school English position. It also includes the resignation of one employee and the retirements of three others. The teachers also took a pay freeze.
The board faced, with massive state cuts and no 3 percent annual increase, a state funding deficit of $1,219,821. They also had additional expenses of $147,000 for the Trevorton and high school construction projects and $227,000 for the Dalmatia project.
Other business
The board approved Koppy's Propane Inc., Williamstown, to provide propane at a fixed price of $1.9850 per gallon, effective July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012.