No property tax increase in tentative McKeesport Area School District budget

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com

In a 6-1 vote Wednesday, McKeesport Area School Board passed the preliminary budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
And property owners in Dravosburg, McKeesport, South Versailles, Versailles and White Oak can breathe a sigh of relief as there is no proposed real estate tax increase.
Board directors James Brown, Diane Elias, Tom Filotei, Steve Kondrosky, Mindy Sturgess and Joe Lopretto voted in favor of approving the $81,135,386 preliminary budget, keeping the real estate millage rate at 20.96 mills.
Director David Donato cast the lone no vote. Directors Ivan Hampton and Jim Poston were both absent during the vote Wednesday.
State law requires the district to pass a final budget by June 30.
According to the Allegheny County Community Profile for McKeesport, properties valued at $100,000 saw a school tax bill of about $2,096 in 2020 under the rate of 20.96 mills. Those with a property valued at the median amount of $21,100 received a tax bill of about $442.26.
Business Manager Joan Wehner cited cyber-charter tuition costs as a “major budget driver.”
“That continues to rise. It’s actually a very large number this year,” she said, later adding that, “We haven’t seen any movement on charter school reform.”
“Those total $2.4 million,” she said of the cyber-charter tuition costs.

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