The proposed 2026-27 budget for Greater Latrobe School District does not include a property tax hike.
“We always want to be good stewards of our community and our tax dollars,” Greater Latrobe School District Superintendent Kim Rieffannacht said. “Doing the best with what we have is beneficial.”
School board members approved the proposed final budget of $70.5 million on May 26. The plan included a projected deficit of $350,000, but it has since been whittled down to $0 because the district was able to adjust their staffing count.
“The changes in staffing were due to attrition,” Rieffannacht said.
The budget originally saw a shortfall of $1.9 million in March.
The district was able to avoid a tax hike by purchasing elementary ELA curriculum with unassigned funds from receiving delinquent tax payments and by increasing special educations services within the district instead of sending students to out-of-district supporters.
The board will vote to adopt the budget on Tuesday.
The school district’s business manager, Dan Watson, said at the May 12 meeting that the budget covers costs for maintenance of the district’s aging facilities.
Besides the ongoing roof replacement at the Greater Latrobe Junior High and updates of the Memorial Stadium track, there are no projects planned for the future, Rieffannacht said.
Property taxes were raised by 1 mill in 2025, setting the rate at 89 mills, among the lowest in the county.
Westmoreland County school district millage rates in 2025 ranged from 85.90 mills in municipalities covered by Ligonier Valley to 158.91 in West Leechburg, where students attend Leechburg Area in Armstrong County, according to the Westmoreland tax office.