Hermitage school budget includes 4.9% tax increase

Jun. 18—HERMITAGE — Property owners can expect an increase in their real estate taxes under the Hermitage School District's 2024-25 budget.

The budget, which the school board approved unanimously on Monday evening, calls for total revenues of $39,098,260.

The 2024-25 budget also calls for a 4.9% property tax increase, to 70 mills from 66.707 mills. This will mean an increase of about $4.32 per month, or $51.78 per year, for the average property owner in the district, according to school information.

Previously, the owner of a property assessed at the district median of about $25,000 paid about $1,661 per year in property taxes.

When the preliminary budget was first introduced in May, it originally called for total revenues of $39,288,570. It was unknown if a tax increase was necessary at the time.

Despite attempts to avoid a tax increase, the continuing cost increases caused by inflation and unclear information from the state left district officials no other option this year, Superintendent Dr. Dan Bell said.

"We're not adding any staff this year, and we're trying to trim wherever possible," Bell said.

"We're at the point where, if we cut any further, then we're going to be cutting programs."

According to school information, the Hermitage School District has a 10-year average millage increase of 1.07 percent, which is "well below any inflation index."

Bell added that over the last 15 years, the school board has only raised taxes by 7.7 mills prior to Monday's meeting.

One issue for school officials is that the district's funding levels continue to be among the lowest in Mercer County, Bell said.

The Hermitage School District spends about $17,251 per year, per student. The county average, meanwhile, is $23,170 per student, the information states.

The school district also receives $3,715 per year, per student from the state budget. The county average is $8,016 per student.

School districts in Pennsylvania must also have their budgets in place by June 30, even though the state budget isn't due until the same day and often isn't finished on time. This forces school officials to estimate how much state funds their district will receive.

This year in particular was more difficult than usual, since school officials have "no idea" what state funding the district will receive for the 2024-25 school year, Bell said.

While Gov. Josh Shapiro has proposed more funding toward education, it is unknown if any districts will see those proposals come to fruition.

There could also be some changes to the overcharging of cyber charter schools to school districts, which — if state officials do rectify — could mean a potential decrease in "wasteful spending" for schools, Bell said.

At the Hermitage School District, the cost of a cyber student is about $5,000 per year. However, a cyber charter school charges the district about $12,000 for regular education and $24,000 for special education.

Cyber charter school spending legislation has already been passed by the House of Representatives, and was recently sent to the state Senate.

If approved by the Senate, the Hermitage School District would see a reduction of about $500,000 in cyber charter school costs, the information states.

"Right now, we have $1.3 million budgeted for cyber charter schools, so if the funding reform was passed, that would take off a significant chunk of it," Bell said.

Like David L. Dye on Facebook or email him at ddye@sharonherald.com.