North Hills Board keeps tax rate at 20.37 mills, adopts $100.1 million general fund budget

The North Hills Board of Education on June 5 approved a tax rate of 20.37 mills for the 2025 tax year, adopted the 2025–26 general fund budget, and approved the homestead/farmstead exclusion as presented by district finance staff.

The actions set the district’s property tax rate and finalize the budget and tax‑relief mechanics voters and taxpayers will see for the coming fiscal year.

Mrs. Elwood (Finance presenter) presented the finance recommendations and explained that the tax rate resolution — Resolution 2025‑01 — “remains unchanged from the ’24, ’25 rate.” She said district property valuation decreased “approximately 22,000,000 or point 7%,” and that with the tax rate unchanged “real estate tax revenues, net of the tax relief for homestead exclusions, will decrease approximately $449,000.” Elwood said net changes in other revenues would offset that decrease and that the superintendent recommended the 20.37‑mill rate. The motion to adopt Resolution 2025‑01 was moved by the superintendent (as stated in the presentation) and seconded by East Bay (board member). The motion passed on roll call, 9 yes, 0 no. Recorded yes votes included Mrs. Mathis, Mrs. Neese, Mrs. Rennebeck, Mr. Santucci, Mrs. Spade, Mrs. Stevens, Mrs. Elwood, Miss Gazzara and Mr. Little.

The board also approved Resolution 2025‑02 providing for the homestead/farmstead exclusion. Finance staff noted that certified gaming funds will total $2,494,550.81; Allegany County certified 11,072 eligible homesteads; the available per‑home tax reduction calculates to $225.30 and the total homestead exclusion amount was presented as $11,060 and $51.01 cents. The board acknowledged the district will be reimbursed for those exclusions and the motion carried.

On the general fund budget, Mrs. Elwood said the final budget contains estimated revenues of $100,117,355 and estimated expenditures and other uses of $100,117,355 and that the real estate tax rate remains at 20.37 mills. The superintendent recommended adoption and the board approved the 2025–26 general fund budget on a 9–0 roll‑call vote.

Other finance motions moved to the legislative agenda included authorization of scholarship payments totaling $4,500 (several named scholarships and recipients were provided), approval of payroll for May 2025, bid awards for 55 HP workstations ($81,028.75 to AMCOM) and 25 HP desktops ($19,050 to Riverside Technology), and authorization to open a Peoples Security Bank and Trust account to receive Act 511 (Keystone Collection) tax receipts. Finance staff said Keystone Collection remits Act 511 collections to the Pennsylvania School District Liquid Asset Fund at about $8,000,000 annually; Peoples Security offered comparable interest and collateral and would commit Educational Improvement Tax Credit contributions to the North Hills Foundation. Mrs. Elwood moved items 8 through 15 under finance to the legislative agenda; the motion carried after an abstention on specific check numbers from one board member.

These votes were taken during the board’s legislative‑agenda consent process; individual motions were moved, seconded and carried by voice or roll call as noted in the meeting record.