Keystone Central board directs staff to prepare budget assuming 1.78‑mill property tax increase after split vote

The Keystone Central School District Board of Directors on April 10 directed district business staff to prepare the proposed 2024–25 budget assuming a 1.78‑mill increase in the local property tax rate, following a contentious discussion over cuts, services and the district’s structural deficit.

Board members debated whether to raise taxes at all before the business office must finalize numbers for the May budget presentation. Earlier in the meeting a motion to adopt a 0% tax increase briefly passed on a roll call vote, but the board later voted to send the administration a separate directive to proceed with a 1.78‑mill increase for budget development.

Why it matters: the board must give the business office a revenue assumption so staff can complete the proposed budget. Board members said they were split between avoiding any near‑term tax increase and taking a smaller, partial raise now to reduce future operating shortfalls. Supporters of the mil rate said smaller, regular increases are how the state’s funding model assumes school districts will maintain services; opponents said the district should intensify internal cuts first and avoid placing the burden on taxpayers.

Board discussion reflected those positions. Board member Chris (board member) argued against raising taxes now and urged deeper, monthly budget reviews to identify additional cuts before asking taxpayers for more revenue. Board member Roger (board member) said a modest increase would reduce a recurring deficit and warned that repeated zero increases in prior years left the district in its current strained position. Superintendent Dr. Robert Redmond (Superintendent) told the board the administration and business office need a clear revenue directive “so Joni can build the budget” to present on May 1.

The board’s direction does not itself raise taxes. Any final change to the millage rate will appear in the proposed budget and require formal board action at a later meeting and public notice. Board members repeatedly asked that administration provide more detail on where proposed personnel and operational savings will come from; Dr. Redmond said administration would supply follow‑up information in memo form or at the next meeting.

What the board decided (procedural): the business office was instructed to prepare the May budget using the 1.78‑mill increase revenue assumption. The board also heard that administration has identified roughly $1.8 million in reductions across discretionary operations and supplies and is pursuing attrition and other measures to reduce staffing costs where possible.

Looking ahead: the business office will present the proposed budget at the May work session using the revenue assumptions directed tonight. Any formal adoption of a new millage rate will follow statutory public‑notice requirements and a board vote.