Vote set this week on McKeesport Area budget

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@youmvi.com

The McKeesport Area school board is expected to vote Wednesday on the preliminary budget for next school year.

At last week’s open agenda meeting, Business Manager Joan Wehner said property owners in Dravosburg, McKeesport, South Versailles, Versailles and White Oak won’t see an increase in school taxes.

The budget is balanced at $81,135,386 and MASD is expected keep the current millage rate of 20.96 mills.

If there are no changes to the millage rate at Wednesday’s meeting, which is virtual and will be livestreamed at 7:30 p.m. on the district’s MCKASDPR YouTube page, property owners with an assessed value of $100,000 can expect a school tax bill of about $2,096 for 2021-22. A property assessed at the median value of $21,100 can expect a school tax bill of around $442.

Under state law, the district has until June 30 to approve a final budget for 2021-22. 

During the open agenda meeting last week, Director Dave Donato asked Wehner and board President Joe Lopretto how the district’s millage rate compares to those in other school districts.

“Do you know where this 20.96 places us in the AIU (Allegheny Intermediate Unit)?” He asked. “There’s 42 school districts in Allegheny County.” 

Wehner didn’t have the information available at last week’s meeting, but said she would work to have an answer for the board as soon as possible.

“They will send us that once all of the budgets are approved,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Holtzman Jr. interjected. “So we’ll get that from the AIU. Last year we were like the bottom third as of overall millage rate.”

If the board approves the proposed preliminary budget and the final budget next month with no tax increases, it will be the first time since at least 2017 that the district hasn’t raised school taxes. 

White Oak School for sale

Solicitor Gary Matta didn’t give a lot of specific details, but said the board will vote this week on the potential sale of White Oak School (the former White Oak Elementary). 

“We will most likely have some type of action item in regards to the sale of White Oak School,” Matta said. “Whatever action we take naturally will be pending some type of court approval.”

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