North Hills School District’s proposed final budget for the 2024-25 includes a real estate tax increase of .67 mills.
The school board will vote June 6 on adopting the $99.98 million spending plan, according to the district.
With the proposed increase, North Hills’ real estate rate would rise to 20.37 mills, a 3.4% increase. Under the Act 1 index for the district established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the maximum increase would have been 6.2%, or 1.2214 mills.
One mill represents $1 per $1,000 of assessed value. With a .67-mill increase, owners of a home valued at $134,400, the median in Ross, would pay $90.05 more per year. In West View, owners a home valued at $97,600, the borough’s median, would pay $65.39 more per year.
At the current 19.7 mills, North Hills’ real estate tax rate compares favorably to other school districts in the general vicinity for 2023-24: Pine-Richland, 19.5867 mills; North Allegheny, 19.74; Quaker Valley, 20.6277; Fox Chapel Area, 20.7352; Hampton Township, 21.85; and Shaler Area, 24.7084.
North Hills’ homestead property tax reduction allocation for 2024-25, resulting from the distribution of state gaming revenues, is $2.17 million. The amount represents a $302,915 increase over the allocation for the current school year.
For the 11,097 North Hills taxpayers with approved homestead properties, the exclusion to be applied as a reduction against their total tax owed is $195.59. That represents 20.27% more than the 2023-24 amount of $162.63.
The proposed final budget, which the school board approved May 2, includes the addition of three new elementary assistant principals, a grant writer, autistic support teacher and custodian.
According to the district, the custodian will work at West View Elementary School to support the building’s expansion, and the grant writer will explore alternate revenue sources for the district beyond taxpayer dollars. The assistant principals — to be assigned to Highcliff, McIntyre and Ross schools — are in addition to the hiring of Kaitlin Hoch in that capacity at West View.
Upcoming Local Events
The proposed hirings are part of the district’s plan to strengthen support for students as announced when current North Hills Middle School Principal LaMont Lyons was named the district’s director of student and community engagement to lead the new School Climate and Culture Council.
Additionally, two indoor track coaches, a director of cheerleading and two sponsors for the North Hills High School Buddy Club are funded in the proposed budget.
All board members voted in favor of the proposed final budget with the exception of Elizabeth Nease, who cited the cost of the personnel additions.
Samantha Ellwood, who chairs the school board’s finance committee, addressed some of the challenges in balancing the budget, including the anticipated depletion in September of American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. She also referenced lost tax revenues from commercial property appeals and the district’s cost for cyber charter school tuition.
The proposed final budget is available for public inspection at the district’s administration center, 135 Sixth Ave., Ross Township, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.