Mountain View examines its budget options

BY VIRGINIA CODY

The Mountain View School Board discussed whether or not it would raise taxes next year during its Monday night meeting.

Business Manager James Mirabelli presented the board with the timeline of the budgetary process and presented an explanation of the three options the board had.

The first, he explained, was to agree not to raise taxes beyond a 2.3 percent index established by the state.

The second would be to plan on raising taxes 2.3 percent and reserve the right to increase that amount by just over one mill.

The third option would be to leave the matter up to the public.  If the public were to approve a referendum to increase taxes to any level, the board would have to abide by its decision.

Discussion on whether to put the matter out to the public for a vote was limited with all members agreeing the likelihood of a referendum passing was negligible.

The idea of choosing the “exceptions” option got the most play, although newly installed board member Tom Stoddard said he thought “it’s brazen to say that we’re going to raise taxes 2.3 percent, maybe more.”

Mirabelli explained that the exceptions allowed by the state amount to $220,000 which is the equivalent of just over one mill.  That amount will be needed to pay anticipated increased costs for special education and retirement costs.

The Public School Employees Retirement System rate the school district has to kick in will see a 44 percent increase next year, Mirabelli said.  It is going from 8.64 percent to 12.36 percent.

Dava Reinhart-Cowan said she was very reluctant to increase taxes at all.

“If you can guarantee me you will give me a bigger outcome, I’ll gladly pay more in taxes,” she said.  “I want a guaranteed outcome.  Money cannot fix the problem.”

Board member Kevin M Griffiths said he was concerned that if the board took advantage of the exceptions “loophole,” it would be playing into the hands of the Corbett administration.

“They put that loophole there so we would have to raise the taxes, not them.  They look good, and we look bad,” he said.

Another concern expressed by Stoddard was that the district is currently in contract negotiations with certain personnel.

“If we take this option, they’ll tell us we can raise taxes if we want to.”

Mirabelli explained that if the board planned to raise taxes within a 2.3 percent index established by the state, the timeline required a vote to do so at next Monday’s meeting.

The board, having reached no decision, decided that a vote on staying within the index will be on next week’s agenda.  If the proposal fails, further discussion will take place in early January when a special meeting might have to be scheduled.

In any event, the board will have approximately six months to work with its preliminary budget which must be finalized in May, Mirabelli said.

Another subject addressed by Mirabelli was his difficulty in finding a bus company willing to transport students to Harrisburg in May for a one-day field trip.

Companies are not willing to come out to the Mountain View School District for a one-day trip, he said.

Superintendent Andrew Chichura recommended the board consider utilizing school buses.

Chichura also advised school board members that they now have email accounts established on the district website.  This, he said, will enable the members to have access to documents they need to review for meetings earlier than if they are distributed by mail.

Chichura also suggested the board consider purchasing laptops for its members’ exclusive school-related business.

Discussion ensued as to the cost benefit of such a purchase with the board taking the matter under advisement.

In other district business, Mirabelli indicated he would be leaving the district at the end of the semester.  He will be moving into a similar position at Abington Heights.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said.  “I’ll miss it here.  But it’s a great opportunity.”