Monessen school board OKs new budget with tax hike
MONESSEN – Despite opposition from several board members, Monessen’s board of school directors passed a $16,139,672 budget that includes a 2.66 mills tax increase.
On Thursday, during resumption of a meeting that recessed last week, the board voted 6-3 to adopt the district’s 2019-2020 budget. All real estate within the district will be levied a tax of 81.07 mills, or 8.1 cents per $100 on all restate within the district.
Voting for the budget were school directors Roberta Bergstedt, Lee Johnson, Sharon Mauck, Kimberly Egidi, Donna Fantauzzi and Maria Scuteri. School directors Cindy Pawelec, Cheryl Galilei and Mark Panicucci voted against the spending plan.
Superintendent Dr. Lee Ann Spazak said that while the budget does not call for any furloughs, the district will continue to consider attrition as a way to curb costs.
“We don’t anticipate hiring any new teachers in the near future,” she said. “But it’s important to remember that some positions are specific, and you have to have at least one of them in each building.”
During public comment, Bergstedt said the district has been exploring a variety of measures to cut costs. For example, the board just approved a one-year agreement with Seneca Valley School District to operate a cyber school program on behalf of the Monessen City School District for the 2019-2020 school year. That agreement could save the district over $200,000 next year, she said. In addition, the district is considering shifting several administrative titles as a way to qualify for more grant funding.
“We are always looking for ways to save money for the district,” said Bergstedt, who serves as president of the board.
Monessen resident Frank Lopresti urged the board to be open to possible merger discussions.
“I have as much Greyhound pride than anyone, but I also have a love of my community,” said Lopresti, who graduated from Monessen High School in 1995. “And I know for the last 30 years, we thought that Monessen could get better, and maybe that could revitalize our schools and increase our tax base. But at this point, it isn’t working.”
Bergstedt said the district is open to having discussions with other districts about a potential merger, but cautioned that mergers aren’t a quick fix.
“It’s a lengthy process and you have to have cooperation from a neighboring district,” she said. “It is also about maintaining your school’s individuality and identity.”
In other business, the district:
n Adopted the 2019 Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Resolution;
n Renewed insurance coverages with Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance for property, general liability, automobile liability, inland marine, crime, boiler and machinery, excess liability, educator’s legal liability, cyber liability, law enforcement and workers compensation;
n Renewed a one-year extended agreement between ESS Northeast, LLC (formerly Source4Teachers) and the district, effective July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020;
n Accepted a proposal from Joseph’s Nursery & Garden Center, LLC for baseball field renovations.