Property owners in the Greater Latrobe School District won’t be seeing a tax increase this year.
The school board on Tuesday unanimously approved the $70.3 million budget.
They were able to hold the millage rate at 89 mills by reducing expenses, which includes reducing the staffing count through attrition. Elementary ELA (English language arts) curriculum will be purchased with unassigned funds from delinquent tax payments. Increased special education services will take place within the district instead of sending students to out-of-district supporters.
“I think it was a great team effort as any budget is,” Greater Latrobe School District Superintendent Kim Rieffannacht said.
Property taxes were raised by 1 mill in 2025. For a property at the median assessed value of $21,510, homeowners would pay about $1,742 in property tax, according to the school district’s business manager, Dan Watson.
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. Greater Latrobe School District is among the lowest millage rates in the county.
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 zero.
The budget originally saw a shortfall of $1.9 million in March.
Tax revenue covers 70% of the school’s budget, while the remaining 30% comes from state and federal funding.
Watson predicts the school will receive about $1.4 million from Harrisburg because of the state’s adequacy formula. Despite last year’s state budget impasse, Watson said he is not worried about delayed funds because he ensures the district has a three-month safety net in the reserves.