Tax hike in Ringgold budget proposal

The school board is expected to vote on the final budget at the June 19 meeting.

Ringgold School Board passed its $56 million preliminary budget Wednesday for 2024-25, which includes a tax hike for property owners in the district.

The tentative budget includes a 1 mill increase and $3.6 million more in spending than the previous year. The median-value households would see a $63 raise in taxes this year if the budget is adopted as is next month.

Kimberley Moore, the district’s director of finance, referred to rising costs in cyber charter schools and transportation as contributing factors in raising taxes.

Transportation accounts for $4.3 million of the budget’s expenditures, a $1 million increase from last year.

If the budget holds, it will mark the 10th consecutive spending plan with a tax increase.

The entire budget is expected to be available on the district’s website today.

The board is expected to pass a final budget at the June 19 meeting. School districts in Pennsylvania are required to pass a budget by June 30 for the following fiscal year.

In other business, the board voted to:

• Accept Mon Valley Career and Technology Center’s proposed 202425 budget, which includes $765,405.90 from Ringgold.

• Approve the purchase of an executive function curriculum tool, SMARTS, which will be “used with students with an identified need in this area.”

• Approve the retirement of Kevin McCabe, the district’s director of educational technology, effective June 30.

• Hire Laura Castaneda and Amanda McLay as elementary school teachers.

• Hire Adam Thomas as the head volleyball coach.

• Hire Alfon Cook as the high school football defensive coordinator.

• Hire Dylan Sapp as assistant high school football coach.

• Accept the resignation of elementary school teacher Sarah Grogan.