Southern Columbia trustees ask staff to prepare 3% preliminary budget after wide-ranging millage discussion

Board members at a Southern Columbia Area School District facilities and finance meeting discussed tax‑millage scenarios and budget options, with staff modeling the impact of Act 1 index increases on parcel‑level tax bills.

The district’s business manager walked directors through 'bins' showing how many parcels would pay $0–$10, $10–$25 and larger annual increases under different percentage choices. Staff noted the Act 1 index ceiling is 6.9 percent but recommended lower options to limit local impact. The presentation included median and average taxpayer calculations by municipality and examples of large assessed parcels.

Staff said a 2.5 percent increase would raise roughly $236,000 in local real‑estate revenue; a 3 percent increase would raise about $283,000. The superintendent also said projected state aid under the governor’s budget could add an estimated $187,000 to the district’s receipts, and that combination of local increase plus conservative state estimates would cover an identified shortfall without exhausting reserves.

Directors discussed the district’s staffing needs, noting two proposed new positions that together would cost about $251,000 in salary and benefits. Board members debated using reserves, phasing capital projects and whether to advertise a larger preliminary number to spur public comment. Several directors emphasized the importance of seeing final staffing and enrollment numbers before making a final decision.

After the discussion the superintendent instructed staff to build and advertise a preliminary budget model using a 3 percent millage increase so the district can solicit public feedback; he noted the preliminary figure is procedural and not a final adoption. The preliminary budget will be advertised per law, followed by additional public comment and a final vote later in the budget calendar.