The Warren County School District’s 2024-25 budget will not increase taxes above the state index rate of 7.7%.

At its regular meeting Monday, the WCSD board voted to constrain any potential property tax increase to within the state calculated index.

In Pennsylvania, a statewide index determines how much school districts can raise taxes without a ballot referendum. This year, the threshold is 7.7%, or 4.2599 mills for the Warren County School District.

Districts must either prepare a proposed preliminary budget for public inspection by Jan.4 or pass a resolution stating they will not raise taxes above the statewide index level.

Superintendent Amy Stewart recently noted she does not believe the board has exceeded the limit in her tenure, which began in 2016.

A “rough cut” of the coming year’s budget presented last month was smaller than this year’s. This is largely due to the expiration of approximately $5 million in grant monies. In total, the just over $88 million in estimated revenue was 5.62 percent lower than the current $93.3 million. Meanwhile, after removing costs funded through the same grant funds, total costs were down 2.58 percent, from $96.7 million to $94.2 million. As it stands, budget estimates project a deficit of just more than $5.3 million if no reserve monies or tax increases are utilized.

TIMELINE

January: Proposed preliminary budget made available for public inspection or resolution not to exceed state index for property taxes passed.

February-April: Administration and district board finance committee conduct budget workshops

April: Superintendent prepares and presents proposed budget to finance committee based on workshop results.

May: Finance committee presents proposed budget for full board approval.

June: WCSD board adopts budget for upcoming fiscal year.