NBC District Considers 3.65 Percent Tax Increase

Northern Bedford County School District Superintendent Todd Beatty gave a 2024-25 preliminary budget presentation at the April 9 Northern Bedford School District Board of School Directors meeting.

Beatty proposed a 3.65 percent tax increase for the district, which falls just between the minimum of 0.5 percent and the state-set maximum allowed of 7.3 percent.

This represents an increase to the median household of $45 a year in taxes. It does not count homestead program money that the district may be eligible for.

Supplies, wages, health insurance, transportation, and shipping are just a few examples of increases for next year, Beatty told the board.

“We have received a tremendous financial gain through the grants to have many upgrades to our campus, but it still impacts our local expenditures,” he said.

Currently the budget shows a $795,000 deficit including the 3.65 percent tax increase, Beatty said.

He said the budget committee will communicate again prior to the May board meeting to finalize a recommendation on a tax increase and a final review of the budget.

The state has not approved its budget so the district does not know exactly what it will get from the state in funding, Supt. Beatty said.

The $863,952 proposed budget for 2024 is relatively close to last year’s budget, he said.

Increasing costs include special education needs and cyber-school costs, which have taken a jump for next year, the superintendent said. Also, there is a $33,000 increase by transportation contractors for next year.

There is a 5.91 percent increase in healthcare and 5.7 percent increase on shipping costs, Supt. Beatty said.

Beatty said that there will be no increase in student lunch costs to students and free breakfasts will remain in place for 2024-25.

Supt. Beatty reminded the board that Northern Bedford County School District currently has the lowest millage rate in the county with the highest median income in the county.

The bid for water line replacement between the high school building and vo-tech building to the sole bidder Guyer Brothers in the amount of $36,414 was approved. This will come out of capital projects funding.

The Resolution for the Public Facility Improvement Grant to be submitted to the Department of Economic Development by April 30 was approved.

This grant will require a 25% local match and is being written around replacement windows/blinds at the elementary school and sanitary lines from the elementary to the township main line in the amount of $650,00.

The hiring of Christopher Perry was approved as elementary teacher for grade three for the 2024-25 school year at a salary of $54,171.

He was a former Dean of Students and has a 10 year background in elementary education with a focus in math.

Logan Corle was moved from grade three to the middle school/high school as a technology education teacher starting with the 2024-25 school year.

The board approved a new disc golf course on campus. It is a nine basket course , four baskets will be paid by ESSER funding.

It was also noted that the annual Dance-a-Thon was a huge success, raising $35,412 to help local families in need.

The athletic report noted the success of girls’ wrestling with junior Raegan Snider and sophomore Kaylee Ebersole winning district and regional championships.

Snider placed third in state competition and Ebersole sixth. Freshman Emily Dennis took second place in district competition.

The next board meeting will be held May 14 in Room 136 of the high school at 6:00p.m. There will be an executive session.