Spring Cove Raised Real Estate Tax 3.2%

The Spring Cove School District Board of Directors, by a 7-2 margin, raised the real estate tax rate by 3.6% with a final rate of 11.6556 mills on the assessed dollar value of all real property taxable for school purposes in the district. The school district was allowed to raise real estate taxes to the maximum of 7.2% under the Act 1 index. Board members John Biddle, Chuck Gojmerac, Linda Smith, Troy Wright, Amy Acker-Knisely, Andrea Moses, and Gretchen Bettwy voted in favor of the tax hike while Kevin Smith and Misti Fisher, by phone, voted against the tax increase. The tax hike represents a $57.47 yearly average real estate increase but the Homestead Farmstead reduction would make it a $26 average increase per household per year. 46% of properties in the Spring Cove District qualify for Homestead Farmstead. This is an automatic $31 reduction in yearly average real estate tax. The average household will see a $2.18 tax increase per month.

One full mill of the real estate tax rate will go toward covering the cost of cyber/charter school costs. Business Manager Stephen Foor said the state is looking at a higher rate for special education students in cyber school. This will make the cost extremely expensive. Superintendent Dr. Betsy Baker said students who go to outside Cyber/Charter schools are extremely expensive to the district. Baker said she has worked to get students back into Spring Cove School District Cyber Charter school, however many do not want the accountability of the Spring Cove Charter school. She said Cyber school is very reading and writing intensive.

The motion to adopt the final 2024/25 General Fund Budget of the Spring Cove School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1,2024 and ending June 30, 2025 was approved by a 9-0 vote. Although this budget included the tax hike, both Kevin Smith and Misti Fisher voted for the General Fund Budget approval. When there was discussion about any cuts in spending, President Troy Wright said, “there is no fat in this district , there is nothing to cut. Costs have been cut. We don’t have an assistant superintendent or director of curriculum.” Smith said he voted no to the tax increase because the district is buying too much equipment in hard times. Dr. Baker reminded him that $250,000 was put aside for replacement of equipment.

Vice-president Amy Acker-Knisely reminded the board that the middle school is the only outstanding major debt and it is scheduled to be paid off in 2026/27.

Baker said $6 million in Esser Funds received over the past several years has gone away. This may mean tax hikes may be necessary in upcoming years.

The resignation of three district teachers were accepted: Emily Wadropper, English teacher, Casandra Foster, Science teacher , and Nicole Bradley Martinsburg Elementary School teacher. Helena Bassler was hired as a English teacher at Spring Cove Middle School at a salary of $51,408 by an 8-1 vote with Kevin Smith opposing the hiring. Thad Albright was hired as a junior high assistant football coach at a stipend of $3,159 and Mary Baker was hired as the head varsity girls’ volleyball coach at a salary of $4,857.

The next Regular meeting of the board will be Monday, July 15 at the Administration Office Board Room at 7:00 p.m.