Pittston Area School Board passes final budget with no tax increase

Jun. 30—PITTSTON — Pittston Area School Board passed a final budget for 2023-24 at a meeting Thursday that sets spending at $62.5 million with no property tax increase. Property tax millage will remain at 16.5413. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

The regular monthly meeting had been rescheduled from June 20. It also moved from the usual location at the high school to the Martin L. Mattei Middle School.

One increase in costs will be insurance. The board approved various coverages through Joyce, Jackman & Bell Insurance for 2023-24 at a total annual premium of $620,525, up from $510,408 in 2023-24. The coverage includes property, comprehensive crime, inland marine, general liability, law enforcement (armed guards), automobile, school leaders' legal liability, excess, workers compensation, privacy and network security liability, student accident, and a risk management fee. Workers compensation is by far the largest piece at $222,020.

The district is hoping to avoid an increase in expenses for necessary sidewalk repair/replacement projects by teaming with the Pittston City in seeking a Multi-modal grant for the work. The board approved a memorandum of pnderstanding for Pittston to apply for the grant on the district's behalf, and to serve as grant administrator if the application is successful.

Business consultant Tom Melone said without a tax increase the budget projects spending to exceed revenue by abut $1.2 million. That's more than the shortfall of $900,000 in the preliminary budget passed last month. Melone said that while some projected costs went down between the two budgets, others increased, and the net effect was the larger shortfall.

But Melone noted that the budget assumes no increase in state funding, as was assumed last year. In both years the board approved a budget before the state, even though the law requires all school districts and the state to pass balanced budgets by June 30 each year. Melone noted last year it worked out because the state increased money for the district that offset a shortfall, and said the odds seem good that will happen again. Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed budget increased money to Pittston Area by $1.3 million.

The board also:

—Set the price of school meals, with elementary lunch at $2.30, Secondary lunch (middle and high schools) at $2.40, and all breakfasts at $1.20.

—Transferred money from the general fund to the Capital Project fund in an amount not to exceed $2.5 million, and transferred money from the general fund to the Food Service Fund in an amount not to exceed $500,000.

—Awarded a bid for duplicating paper for the coming school year to Liberty Paper at a cost of $$33,180.

—Authorized advertising for bids for the addition of a concession area at the High School gymnasium.

—Approved annual agreements with the Luzerne County Department of Probation Services for school-based services, and with Children's Service Center for partial and therapeutic educational services.

—Approved the dual credit affiliation agreement with the Commonwealth Campuses for the upcoming school year.

—Approved an agreement with PRO-ABA for licensed social work services through June 30, 2024.

—Approved Samuel Eramo as security substitute, Linda Collins as cafeteria/aide substitute, and Ashley Rinkiewicz as cafeteria/office substitute.

—Approved as teacher substitutes pending their availability Jared Fulginiti, Jordan Powers, Sydney Hornlein, Alyssa Spigarelli, Jessica Terry, Lauralei Carden, Oksana Bartosiewicz, Kaylee Copp, Olivia Lange, Dana Zuba, Thomas Joyce, Tamara Chesneak and Rachael Schneider.

—Accepted the resignations of high school health/physical education teacher James Woodall, part-time custodian Diane Timlin, parent educator Alexis Saldana, and assistant varsity cheer coach London Lovallo.

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Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish