A tax increase is likely coming to residents of the Blue Mountain School District. At the May 16 committee of the whole meeting, the school board passed a 2024-25 proposed budget that includes a 1.5-mill real estate tax increase for the fiscal year. The proposed tax rate is 44.325 mills, meaning the owner of a property assessed at $100,000 would pay $4,432..
The board plans to take final action on the budget at June 27 meeting. The budget is available for inspection at the district office weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and at www.bmsd.org.
A letter from the board to the district community penned stated that the decision to raise taxes was not made lightly and is necessary to keep up the district’s high educational standards.
The letter stressed that the increase is not tied to a building project, and the construction of the new elementary school allowed for refinancing existing bonds. Funding for the project will also come from the sale of the elementary building in Cressona. Similarly, the letter continues, the tax increase is not related to the turf athletic fields at Blue Mountain High School.
Rather, the increase is due primarily to inflation. The letter noted that the board hadn’t raised taxes the last two years, but continued rising costs have forced district leaders’ hands this time.
Other factors, according to the directors, are an increase in health care costs and district students who attend outside cyber charter schools. The board noted that it costs the district thousands of dollars for each student who attends such schools.
“If you know someone who lives in our district but attends a charter or cyber school, encourage them to try Blue Mountain Virtual Academy,” the letter said.
Another factor, according to the letter, is that it has been 30 years since the last countywide reassessment, which means the district is missing out on realistic 2024 property values.
At the general May 23 meeting, the board approved:
• The purchase and implementation of Introduction to Sports Medicine and Athletic Training, Third Edition textbooks and College Physics: A Strategic Approach, AP Edition, Fourth Edition textbooks.
• The release of construction bid documents for the baseball press box and restroom work.
• The names of 225 seniors as candidates for high school commencement on Friday, May 31, contingent on successful completion of the courses in which they are enrolled.
