ORWIGSBURG - Taxes are increasing for the 2012-13 school year in the Blue Mountain School District.
The school board voted Thursday to increase taxes 0.98 mills, or $44.94 for the average assessed house of $45,483.
School board members had said they did not want to increase taxes previously.
The district raised taxes to the 0.78 index and used some of their special exceptions granted by the state. That increase sets the millage rate at 35.88, up from 34.9.
After the approximately 35-minute board meeting, Superintendent Robert Urzillo said the Legislature still has not finalized a budget.
"It is still very uncertain," he said, adding pension costs to the district are going to increase as mandated.
Increasing taxes will generate $453,000, Business Manager Michelle Diekow said. Revenue generated from the use of special exceptions amounts to "just under $100,000," she said.
In addition, $140,735 of the unreserved fund balance will be used to fill the remaining budget deficit, Diekow said.
Board members Marci Cryts-Kramer and Heather Gosch voted "no." Board member David Lafko was absent, and new board member Paula Ney abstained. She was just appointed Thursday to fill the position vacated by Thomas Wehr, whose recent resignation was effective Thursday. Ney's term will last until the first Monday in December 2013, board President Mary Jo Moss said.
Cryts-Kramer said after the meeting that she could not vote for the budget that included a tax increase after the board voted to eliminate the resolution for real estate tax appeals.
The board had made a concerted effort to reduce the deficit, which at one time was more than $2 million dollars.
A preliminary budget approved in January called for a 1.91 mill tax increase.
Residents were not faced with a higher tax bill for the 2011-12 school year. No members of the public who were in attendance spoke about the budget.
In other news, the district decided to continue to support the study of a dog park in Albright's Woods in Orwigsburg. The proposed site is near the water towers in the woods and about an acre is needed. The borough owns most of the land, but part of the land could be on school district property.
"We think it's a great idea," Moss said, adding more information is still needed.
Also, the board accepted the letter of intent to retire for Jeff Ritschel as director of buildings and grounds effective July 31. The board decided to hire Jeffrey A. Faust as director of facilities for the district at a salary of $60,000 with benefits. A start date was not provided. Faust is also the chairman of the East Brunswick Township board of supervisors.
Lunch prices will not increase for the 2012-13 school year. All lunch prices will be $2.10. Student breakfast will stay at $1. The Nutrition Group was chosen to manage food service in the district starting July 1.
The board also extended its contract with R&J Transportation Inc. to include the 2014-15 year and for transportation to extracurricular activities for the upcoming school year. A cost was not provided but the amount would not increase.