School board approves nearly $100 million budget for 2024-25

The North Hills School District Board of Education on June 6 approved the final budget for the 2024-25 school year.

The budget has revenues and expenditures of $99,979,330 and includes a real estate tax increase of .67 mills taking the district’s millage rate from 19.70 to 20.37. The increase is approximately 3.4 percent and still significantly less than the 6.2 percent maximum increase allowed under the Act I Index set by the state. One mill is one dollar per $1,000 of assessed value.

Homeowners with a home valued at $134,400, the median in Ross Township, will now pay $90.05 more per year or $7.50 more per month. Homeowners with a home valued at $97,600, the median in West View Borough, will pay $65.39 more per year or $5.45 per month. For a home valued at $300,000, the increase is $201 per year or $16.75 a month.

The board also approved the district’s homestead exclusion for 2024-25. The $2,170,491 allocation, resulting from state gaming funds, is divided equally among taxpayers with approved homestead properties as a reduction against their total taxes owed. For 2024-25, that reduction is $195.59, which is more than the $162.63 reduction per homestead allocated in 2023-24.

The 2024-25 budget includes the addition of three new elementary assistant principals, a grant writer, an autistic support teacher and a custodian.

The elementary assistant principals are in addition to the hiring of Kaitlin Hoch as assistant principal at West View Elementary School. One assistant principal will be assigned to each Highcliff, McIntyre and Ross elementary schools to support students and staff as our elementary school populations continue to change and grow. The hirings are part of the district’s overall plan to strengthen support for students as announced when current North Hills Middle School Principal LaMont Lyons was named the district's new director of Student and Community Engagement to lead the new School Climate and Culture Council.

The autistic support teacher will address student needs, the custodian will work at West View Elementary School to support the building’s expansion, and the grant writer will explore alternate revenue sources for the district beyond taxpayer dollars.

Additionally, two indoor track coaches, a director of cheerleading, and two sponsors for the North Hills High School Buddy Club are funded in the budget.

All board members voted in favor of the proposed nearly $100 million spending plan with the exception of Elizabeth Nease, who voted no citing the cost of the personnel additions. The homestead exclusion passed unanimously.