Gettysburg Area School District residents could face a maximum 1.5% tax increase this summer, according to information Business Manager Belinda Wallen shared at Monday’s meeting. Budget discussions are far from final and a proposed budget will be presented May 5.
Wallen told the board that the 1.5% was determined based on the board’s desire last year to create a dedicated 1% tax increase for the Adams Career and Technical Institute’s future building project. The project’s costs will be split between all participating districts–Gettysburg, Fairfield, Littlestown, Bermudian Springs, and Conewago Valley. The other 0.5% will cover contracted salaries and other inflation-related costs, Wallen said. District administration cut about $900,000 from a previous budget proposal without eliminating positions or services.
Superintendent Jason Perrin said the district prioritizes budget items that do not affect the student experience when cuts need to be made.
After the May 5 budget proposal presentation, the board will hold a public hearing on May 19. The final budget will be voted on June 30.
Bids Rejected
The board rejected all bids for proposed renovations to Warrior Stadium bleachers and the construction of new team rooms. Director of Facilities and Safety Coordinator Josh Reynolds said bids came in over $2 million when the district was expecting to spend around $650,000.
Reynolds suspects President Donald J. Trump’s proposed and existing tariffs affected the project’s costs. If contractors had bid based on current material costs and Trump issues more tariffs, the contractor would be legally responsible to cover the costs.
“I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing,” Reynolds said.
Board Member Michelle Smyers questioned why existing buildings could not be repurposed for team rooms. Member Tim Seigman, who chairs the Finance and Facilities Committee, said renovation would be more expensive than new construction.
No Public Comment
Monday’s meeting came four days after three board members were mentioned in a federal lawsuit, with one of them being the suit’s primary target. No members of the public commented on the suit, or any other topic.
In a complaint filed in the United States Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Bizzell Corporation claims Tripwire South LLC and Ryan Morris defrauded Bizzell Corporation out of $3.9 million. The suit alleges Bizzell Corporation paid Tripwire and Morris $3.9 million for explosives and accelerant powders that he failed to deliver.
The suit mentions Board President Kenny Hassinger and Vice President Michael Dickerson as employees of Tripwire but does not accuse them of any wrongdoing.
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I am certainly not an expert on school taxes, but I do have a question. I see in the Times the property transfers and note that the amounts are high for the properties located in Straban township. I am speaking about the over 55 developments. Has GASD received any monies from this. Thanks much.
Absolutely. Residents’ school taxes are based on their property assessments. Residents of Amblebrook have visited the GASD meetings, surprised about how high their school taxes are.
I have to question why any tax increase would be necessary given the prices those homes sell for and the tax monies received, especially considering they are not burdening the school district with any additional students. And they just keep building them!! On a side note, it’s Interesting those homeowners didn’t do their “homework” on the tax burden they’d have on their luxury homes.
The index, or maximum tax the board could impose, is actually 4.8%. The administration offered three options: no increase, a 1% increase (with a shortfall of approx. $186,000) or a 1.5% increase that would balance the budget. The district is still waiting for the numbers for the Farmstead/Homestead Act which would help lower the potential increase to homeowners. Information regarding exact numbers can be found on the district website here: https://www.gettysburg.k12.pa.us/services/business-office/home