Approved C-K Budget Could Raise Taxes to 7.7% Act 1 Index

The Claysburg-Kimmel School Board of Directors approved a preliminary 2024/25 budget which will raise taxes to the Act 1 limit of 7.7% and would cost the average homeowner $1.52 a week , $80 a year more per household, and generate $321,740.

The millage rate in Greenfield and Kimmel townships would be increased to 9.76 and 11.71 mills. The budget shows $14,651,863 in expected expenditures and $14,306,667 in revenue with a deficit of $345,196.

The board does not know what they will receive in state funding at this point, so they took the budget to the Act 1 limit. Superintendent Brian Helsel said in the last 12 years, the district has only raised the budget to the full Act 1 limit once or twice.

With the state budget unknown, the board really did not have a choice. The district is receiving less per student than it did 20 years ago.

The preliminary budget will be put up for public review for the next 30 days before a final vote is taken on the budget.

Board members Amy Claar-Gill, Richard Gergley, Heidi Kennedy , Roger Knisely, Jeremy Knott and Joseph Musselman voted yes on the budget while Mandi Daugherty and Mona Eckley opposed it.

Board member Daniel Potter was absent. The district ranks 444th out of 500 in cost of local taxes.

Helsel reported the district had received the 21st Century grant for $400,000 over a five year period. The summer program will start in June with tutoring, academics, social emotional work for grades K-6.

They also will have more time with students after school. It was also announced that the greenhouses for the hydroponics project are now fully functional.

A new tennis court and pickle ball court will be dedicated to Don Witherspoon, former NAACP president and paid for with donations from the Sheetz Foundation and Claysburg Kimmel Educational Foundation.

The motion to approve the resignation of Heather Paris, head junior high girls’ basketball coach effective immediately was approved as was the motion to approve Brannan Raptosh as Homeless Coordinator to assign duties to designated personnel to assist in homeless coordination activities.

Motions to approve the Claysburg-Kimmel ARP ESSER Health and Safety Plan and school district emergency operation plan were approved unanimously. Ritchey , Ritchey and Koontz were approved to audit the financial statements of the district for the 2023/24 school year and to make all budgetary transfers necessary to close the fiscal year.

The summer staff for Kindergarden Camp, Summer Reading Program, and Stem Camp were also board approved. It was also announced that the new concession stand and ticket booth for the athletic project had been installed.