Montour Approves Final Budget for 2013-14

The Montour School Board approved a final $58.6 million budget for the 2013-14 school year without a tax increase. 

The board voted 7-0 Tuesday night to approve the budget. School directors Cynthia Morrow and Joyce Snell were absent from the meeting.

The real estate tax rate was lowered to 16.9 mills — a 2-mill drop from 18.9 mills — due to the court-ordered Allegheny County property reassessments.

At 16.9 mills, a homeowner whose property is assessed at $150,000 would pay $2,535 in taxes — a decrease of about $300 from 2012-13. One mill brings in about $2.2 million for the district.

Superintendent Donald Boyer said in all probability, the board will have to reopen the budget because the state budget has not yet been adopted.  He said districts are provided about 30 days to reopen their spending plans after the state budget is approved.

“The thing you cannot change however is the tax rate,” Boyer said.

County reassessments made this budget process difficult because districts must remain tax neutral.

Boyer said the district had $150 million worth of assessment appeals that were not yet acted upon during preliminary budget talks. An additional $8 million in appeals have come in since May.

“Some are still coming in,” Boyer said.

Residents who have filed for Act 1 homestead reductions will see a $115.75 reduction on their tax bills from gambling revenue.

The Montour School District also offers an installment plan of three equal payments, the first of which is due by Aug. 31 to participate. The second payment is due Oct. 31, and the third on Dec. 15. Any unpaid taxes will be considered delinquent.