Tamaqua school directors pass preliminary budget with no tax increase
May 23—Tamaqua Area School Board directors unanimously adopted the 2021-22 preliminary general fund budget that shows no tax increases.
The version was one of three presented to the board by Business Manager Connie Ligenza last week, and one of two eyed during Tuesday's regular meeting.
A motion to pass the first version, which included a 1.67 mill increase, failed on a 3-4 vote.
"If we're not going to increase taxes then let's do it now and just not wait 30 days to say that we're not going to increase taxes because the headline will be 'Tamaqua increases taxes' by 5% or whatever," School Board President Larry Wittig said before voting against it.
Directors Tom Bartasavage, Trina Shellhammer and Nicholas Boyle also voted against it, while directors Mark Rother, Daniel Schoener and Bryan Miller voted in favor. Directors Melanie Dillman and Thomas Rottet were absent.
After the first version was shot down, Schoener motioned to adopt a preliminary budget with no tax increase. Boyle seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Taxes, therefore, remain at 39.85 mills.
The budget projects about $33.5 million in revenue and $36 million in expenses, a deficit of about $2.5 million.
The third version, which directors did not revisit, included a .81 mill tax increase based on an estimate of employees' salaries.
"Although, of course, we are collectively bargaining as we speak. So that is an estimate," Ligenza said.
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