MIlton School Board passes $42.7M budget with some tax increases, decreases

May 24—MILTON — Some homeowners in Northumberland and Union counties will see an increase in their property taxes while others will see a decrease under the the Milton Area School District's 2024-25 final budget.

School board members passed the $42.7 million final spending plan during a meeting this week on a 6-2 vote. Voting against the budget were directors Joshua Hunt and Stephanie Strawser.

The final 2024-25 budget reflects $42.7 million in expenditures, with projected revenues of $40.1 leaving a $2.5 million deficit, which will be covered by money from the general fund.

In Northumberland and Union counties, the increase is different for district real estate owners — a 2.95 percent increase for Northumberland County and a 2.66 percent increase for Union County.

The budget increases by .045 mills in Union County to 17.37 mills and by 2.18 to 75.94 mills in Northumberland County.

Based on the median home value in Northumberland County of $19,350, the tax will increase by $42.18. The median homestead value in Union County is $113,100; taxes will increase by $50.89, according to numbers provided by Milton Area School District Business Administrator and Board Secretary Derrek Fink.

The increase in the millage rate is offset by the elimination of the per capita tax, which typically brings in $77,900 a year.

"The reduction in homestead/farmstead property tax resulted in lower net school taxes for the median homestead taxpayer compared to last year," Fink said.

There was approval of a reduction in the homestead/farmstead property tax for 3,798 properties, Fink said. Those properties will have their tax bill reduced by $248.50 — a reduction of $934,725 across the district.

"But the modest increase in tax rates was due to the elimination of the per capita tax ($15) and a noticeable decline in assessed property value across Northumberland and Union counties," Fink said.

The biggest line items in the 2024-25 budget are salaries and wages of district employees, $17.9 million; employee benefits, $12.7 million; and services purchased, such as student transportation, and liability insurance, $3.7 million.

Personnel changes and school transfersThe board approved the hiring of Eugene Bruno as the new girl's varsity basketball head coach, with a salary of $8,411, and Ryan Emery as the new boys varsity basketball coach at a salary of $8,411.

Ryan Hewitt was hired as head band director, with a salary of $6,503, and Steve Klees as assistant to Hewitt, for $1,166.

White Deer Elementary School Principal Jeremy Stetler resigned, effective June 30, after four and a half years with the district.