Three Northumberland County school districts earned state approval to raise property taxes in excess of a combined $1 million beyond their respective limits.
The ruling allows Line Mountain, Shikellamy and Southern Columbia Area to each raise the tax beyond the maximum allowed under the Property Tax Relief Act.
The three were among 197 districts statewide approved for $159,942,625 in exceptions for the 2012-13 school year, state Department of Education announced Tuesday.
The totals approved by PDE for the three districts are: Line Mountain, $470,538; Shikellamy, $249,641; Southern Columbia Area, $313,076.
While Line Mountain and Shikellamy were approved for amounts near what was requested, Southern Columbia received just 26 percent of what it sought.
All three districts adopted preliminary budgets for next school year anticipating a tax increase.
The Property Tax Relief Act was adopted in 2006 to regulate the size of proposed tax increases. It uses the rate of inflation to determine an allowable tax increase. A proposed increase beyond the inflation rate needs voter approval.
However, districts can seek exceptions for costs incurred for school construction prior to the law's adoption as well as voter-approved debt, certain special education expenditures and retirement contributions.
Southern Columbia Area sought $1,171,553 in exceptions. It was approved for $313,076 - $159,232 for special education and $153,844 for pension obligations. The approval could bring a tax hike of 2.7 mills for district residents in Columbia County and just over 1 mill for those in Northumberland County.
Line Mountain sought $578,330 in exceptions, which would have called for a tax increase of 8.3 mills. It was approved for $470,538 - $179,339 for construction debt, $191,973 in special education and $99,226 for pension obligations. That would require a 6.8 mill tax hike.
Shikellamy sought $294,699 and was approved for $249,641 and a hike of 1.45 mills. The exceptions are for pension obligations.
Because a district is approved for an exception does not mean it will use the maximum - or any amount, for that matter.
According to the PDE, school districts opted not to use more than $295 million in approved referendum exceptions in the past two school years.
School budgets in general remain a work in progress until final adoption by June 30.
Philip Rapant, Line Mountain business administrator, said that as the district's board of education works to reduce next school year's deficit - previously projected at $2.2 million - members may find less of a need for the exception.
"We have nothing to lose to file," Rapant said. "It gives them leeway to raise taxes instead of cutting programs."