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UNION TWP. — The Northwest Area School Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to adopt a proposed final 2016-17 budget of $18.5 million which includes a 3.3 percent increase in real estate taxes.
Business manager Kristy Straub said the tax rate will be 10.5848 mills. For the school year 2015-16, the real estate levy was 10.2467 mills. A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation.
Overall, Straub projects $18.5 million in spending while estimating total revenue of $18.475 million. She added the tax increase will provide an additional $164,000 in revenue for the district, which largely relies upon state reimbursement to finance its school system. Straub said that, based upon 2016-17 calculations from the state, Northwest stands to receive $11.6 million in state subsidies.
While the board was unanimous on the proposed budget, it was split on a vote to elect a school director to succeed Clarence Lewis whose resignation was accepted Wednesday because he is relocating outside the school district. Daryl Morgan, former director, and Brian Sutliff, a Shickshinny area businessman, were placed in nomination, but both failed to receive the required majority of five votes following two roll calls. With seven directors in attendance, the tally in both occurrences was 4-2, with director Alton Farver abstaining. Both tallies were in favor of Sutliff.
Director Gary Boberick was absent. Board chairman Randy Tomasacci said a special meeting convenient to Boberick’s schedule will be announced to provide him with an opportunity to vote.
The board also accepted the resignation of Joseph Rasmus as elementary school principal. After 10 years at Northwest, Rasmus has accepted an administrative position with the Scranton-area Howard Gardner Charter School.
In other decisions:
• The board awarded a bid of $120,000 (from the capital improvement fund) to Integra One for a district-wide Wi-Fi.
• The board accepted a bid of $43,000 from Yannuzzi, Inc. for a boiler installation project at the intermediate school building.
• High school principal Ryan Miner announced Dr. Kevin A. Hickman, a Northwest alumnus and administrative official at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut will be the 2016 commencement speaker.
• The board stated the Levin Legal Group of Harrisburg will be counsel for litigation undertaken by charter schools against districts which failed to remit payment to charter and cyber schools during the recent legislative budget stalemate. Northwest withheld payment during the budget crisis which spanned into March, 2016.
• The board’s next regular public meeting will be held June 29.