Burrell School District managed to reduce the deficit under its proposed budget for next school year and even slightly lower its proposed tax increase, but property owners likely will have to wait until next month to get the full details.

District officials say work in continuing to find cost savings ahead of the June budget deadline.

“We were able to decrease the tax increase by like, three-tenths of a percent — it was not a significant decrease,” said school board President LeeAnn Guido said. “There is going to be a tax increase, but our goal is to make it as minimal as possible.”

The final version of the budget will be discussed in more detail at the board’s June 16 agenda meeting and voted on at its June 23 regular meeting.

Guido said the district was able to trim some of the $418,000 deficit, notably by deciding to close the high school pool, a long-awaited decision that will save the district about $45,000 this year and $15,000 annually in future years. The school still has a co-op swim team with the Kiski Area School District.

The district also cut costs by opting to reuse some equipment for its Bon Air Elementary kitchen addition, not replacing a teacher who resigned and implementing some program changes, including to a paperwork managing system used by its special education department.

Stewart sale hearing set

The private sale of Stewart Elementary to Lower Burrell developer David Ziccarelli has to be approved by a Westmoreland County judge because it involves the sale taxpayer owned property.

“We believe it’s the right decision. There was a lot of research and effort and a lot of fact checking put into coming up with the best plan (to sell,)” Guido said. “So, I just look forward to the judge signing off on it, because then it adds validity … as to why this is the decision that we made for the community.”

Earlier this year the district approved selling the site for $1 under terms that the developer greatly reduce demolition costs for the district and produce at least one mill of tax revenue.

The site will be used to build 46 units of single-family, duplex-style condos.

At a public hearing will be held on June 11 at 9:15 a.m. before Judge Scott Mears at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.