Somerset County public schools ready budgets for next school year

While Somerset County's public school districts are wrapping up the 2022-23 school year, they are also in the process of putting together an operating budget for the following school year.

The school operating budget is a plan that focuses on the operating budget for the individual schools. The schools work through the year with the operating budget that covers expenses.

Operating budgets include employee salaries and benefits, costs such as supplies, rent and insurance, as well as revenue.

The real estate tax rate adopted with the final budget may be raised above the rate that was adopted on both the preliminary and proposed final budgets. The ability to increase tax rates at the final budget adoption must happen in conjunction with tax rates based on the school district's index, approved referendum exceptions and voter approval.

A school district will set the millage rate each spring as it calculates what it needs to fund its final budget. The millage rate is the number of dollars of tax assessed for each $1,000 of property value. A rate of 10 mills means that $10 in tax is levied on every $1,000 in assessed value. Otherwise, an owner with property assessed (50% of the market value) at $50,000 will pay $5,000 in real estate taxes.

For the adopted preliminary budget to become the proposed final budget, the school board must take action. A proposed budget must be prepared and adopted through the school board vote no later than May 31, which is at least 30 days before final adoption. The proposed final budget must be made available for public inspection and comment no later than June 10. The final budget must be adopted by a vote by each school board by June 30.

Here is a list of Somerset County public school districts and their proposed budgets.

Berlin Brothersvalley

The preliminary budget for fiscal year 2023-24 of $12,908,471.57, at a 32 millage, has been prepared and adopted and is available for public inspection in the administration office of the Berlin Brothersvalley School District. The adoption of the budget is slated for the June 13 meeting.

Conemaugh Township Area

A proposed general budget totaling $16,742,236 for the 2023-2024 school year was approved at the district's May 16 board of directors meeting. The real estate tax rate remains at 27.96 mills, which is the 12th consecutive year the district has operated without a tax increase, said district Superintendent Nicole Dull. The district is expected to adopt the final budget at its June 20 board meeting.

MeyersdaleThe 2023-2024 proposed final general budget is set at $16,519,110 and was advertised for final adoption on June 7. This includes a tax increase of 1.39 mills to 25.26 mills. At the Dec. 7 meeting, the board approved a resolution stating Meyersdale Area School District does not plan to raise school taxes above the state index for the 2023-2024 school year. Meyersdale’s adjusted index rate is 5.8%.

North Star

The district has proposed a $23,300,533 general budget for the 2023-24 school year and a real estate millage rate of 38.5 mills, an increase of 2.14 mills from the 2022-23 budget. The millage increase is intended to support a planned renovation project at the elementary school, said Brandon Studer, the district's business manager. The budget is to be adopted at the district's board of directors meeting on June 13.

RockwoodThe proposed final budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year in the amount of $15,055,640 and a millage rate of 23.56 mills on real estate and to advertise the budget for public inspection and final approval at a meeting on June 20, was approved.

Salisbury-Elk Lick

At its May 10 board meeting, the 2023-24 preliminary budget of $9,048,423, with millage at 23.11, was approved. The final budget was available for public review and comments since May 11. The intention to adopt the final budget will be at the regularly scheduled board meeting June 14.

Shade-Central City

A preliminary 2023-24 general budget of $8,747,719 was approved at the district's May 1 board meeting, with no change to the current 40.54 millage in real estate tax. The board is expected to adopt the district's final budget at its June 5 meeting.

Shanksville-Stonycreek

The proposed final budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year is the amount of $8,265,655, with a millage of 37.04, was approved. The final proposed budget was available for public review and comments since approved by the board May 9. The final budget adoption is set at the regularly scheduled board meeting June 20.

Somerset

The 2023-2024 proposed final general budget is set at $45,612,535 with millage at 41.70, and was advertised for final adoption on June 26. The proposed spending plan was adopted at a May 2 committee-of-the-whole meeting. There will be no increase in the current tax rate.

TurkeyfootApproved the proposed 2023-24 final budget of $5,888,518. The board approved a resolution for the 2023-24 tax rate of 28.68 mills. This will be no increase to the current tax rate.

Windber Area

The district's board of directors approved a tentative 2023-2024 budget totaling $21,763,239 at their May 16 meeting. The proposed budget is available for inspection during normal working hours at the district superintendent's office, 2301 Graham Ave. The final budget is to be voted upon at the June 20 board meeting.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Somerset County public schools ready budgets for next school year