Baldwin-Whitehall School Board Lowers Millage

By Akasha Brandt and Robert Edward Healy, III

Thanks largely to a recent countywide real estate reassessment that raised the value of most Baldwin-Whitehall properties, residents of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District will have a much lower school tax rate for the 2013-14 school year than they did in years past.

At Wednesday's B-W School Board meeting, the board voted, 8-0, to lower the district's tax rate from 23.40 mills to 19.61—a 3.79-mill decrease. That number puts the operating budget for the district at $60,389,544 for next school year and continues the school board's reputation for not raising B-W's millage rate since 2006-07. However, a decrease was mandated this year since the real estate reassessments (and corresponding increases in property values) would have led to an illegal "windfall" of tax revenue for the district when combined with a millage increase.

Although there were only "yes" votes—board member Larry Pantuso was absent, however—board member Nancy Lee Crowder said that she was not happy about her vote because she had yet to see a five-year projection plan.

"I fail to believe, again—you can't just punch numbers into an Excel document," Crowder said.

A preliminary budget presented to school board members earlier this year by district Business Manager Mark R. Cherpak showed a proposed rate of 19.21 mills, but the board eventually settled on 19.61.

A 19.61 rate equates to $1,961 per year for anyone with a property valued at $100,000 (land and building value combined).