Elk Lake not to raise taxes above index

BY PAT FARNELLI

TheElkLakeand the Susquehanna County Career andTechnologyCenterschool boards held a brief meeting last Wednesday (Jan. 4) to pass a resolution to not raise taxes above the Pennsylvania Department of Education Act I index, which for theElkLakedistrict is now 1.7 percent.

Last year,ElkLake’s index was two percent.

Because the board approved the resolution before the Jan. 5 deadline, the school board will have until May  to prepare a preliminary budget for the 2012-2013 school year, and the final budget will need to be approved 30 days later, after it is available for public review.

ElkLakehas not had a tax increase since 2007 or 2008, and that increase was minimal, board presidentChuck Placesaid.

In other business, the board had a closed session at the beginning of the meeting to approve the expulsion of a student for 180 days.

Several board members expressed an interest in attending the National School Board Convention, which will be held in April inBoston,Mass.

The next regular meeting forElkLakeand SCCTC will be held on Thursday, Jan. 12, at7 p.m.

Business manager Kim Hollister said the board typically meets the third Thursday of the month at7 p.m.

Exceptions to that schedule in 2012, however, in addition to January’s are to meet Feb. 23 – the fourth Thursday in February; Oct.  11 – the second Thursday in October; and Dec. 6 – the first Thursday in December. All will be at7 p.m.