Deer Lakes School Board eyeing 6.9% property tax increase

Deer Lakes School District residents likely will see a tax increase after the board approved a tentative $43.8 million budget.

The plan calls for a 6.9% increase in property taxes, setting the rate at 24.25 mills, up from 22.69.

It was approved Tuesday by a vote of 7-2, with board members Leonard Verdetto and Traci Stotler opposing.

If the final budget is adopted in June as-is, the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $156 more next year. Their district tax bill would be $2,425, up from $2,269.

The value of 1 mill in the district is just more than $1.1 million.

District spokesman Shawn Annarelli said it would be the second time in 12 years that residents would pay more in property taxes.

“The school board and administration takes pride in offering students the highest quality education possible while remaining fiscally responsible to our constituents,” Annarelli said.

“With that said, a delicate balance must always be struck between being fair to taxpayers while also meeting the academic needs of our students.”

In recent years, the district has implemented a 1:1 electronic device initiative to level the playing field for all students and has invested in mental health services and supports, he said.

A budgetary deficit for the coming school year that requires the tax hike to fix is due to a variety of factors, including increasing expenses, reassessment appeals and cyber charter school tuition the district must pay, Annarelli said.

A majority of the district expenses, about 70%, goes to staff salaries and benefits.

This summer, the district expects to complete the energy savings/capital improvement project that was approved in March 2023.

Portions of the work began last year and, in total, will include districtwide parking lot sealing and paving, LED lights and HVAC software programs.

Other work includes new boilers, windows and turf at the baseball and softball fields.

The board is expected to vote on the final budget June 18.