ORWIGSBURG - Taxes are going up for the third year in a row in Blue Mountain School District.
By a vote of 6 to 3, the school board voted Thursday at their regular meeting to hike taxes.
The increase will amount to an extra $51.49 for the average house assessed at $52,600 with the 0.9794 millage increase. A mill brings in $454,000 in revenue for the district. Real estate taxes are levied against half a property's assessed value. Each mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of the assessed value.
The tax rate in the school district is 37.254 mills for the 2014-15 school year. The board decided not to use the special exceptions approved by the state Department of Education for retirement contributions and special expenditures.
Revenues in the final budget are $38,002,187 and expenses are $38,083,775. The balance will be pulled from the general fund.
The tax increase last year was 0.395 mills, or about $25, for the average house assessed at $52,600. In 2012, taxes were hiked 0.98 mills, or $44.94, for the average assessed house at the above mentioned figure.
The following board members voted "no" for the final budget and the tax hike: John Granito, David Lafko and Dean Gherghel.
Before the vote, board President Heather Gosch asked if any members wanted to comment prior to voting.
Gherghel was the only one to speak prior to voting on the tax increase.
He said he could not in "good conscience" vote for a tax hike without giving the residents something in return.
"We really felt that it was important to maintain the curriculum and the programs that are offered to the students in the district," Gosch said after the vote.
Superintendent Robert Urzillo said he thought the budget was a good one but realized that not everyone would be happy.
His taxes would also increase. He said the district did not cut programs, and no teachers were furloughed.
"We have a tough road ahead of us financially," he said.
Granito said he voted "no" on the budget and the taxes because "I don't think we have exhausted all our possibilities and places we can cut the budget."
The district is still in negotiations with the teachers. The current contract expires June 30.
In other news, Urzillo announced that Business Administrator Michelle Diekow told the district of her intent to resign to accept another job with the Radnor School District in Wayne. She has not submitted her letter of resignation yet. Diekow was not at the meeting.
The district has advertised for the position. The deadline to apply is June 30. Urzillo said they would like to get someone in the position before the new school year starts in August. He will screen applications July 1. First round interviews are possible by the week of July 7, second round interviews by the week of July 14. A job offer may be extended by July 21. Times are tentative, Urzillo said.
Of the impending departure of Diekow, Urzillo said, she will be missed.
"I'm disappointed. I think she's a really good business manager, and she will be missed," Gosch said.
Granito echoed those sentiments.
The board also held a moment of silence in honor of Capt. Jason B. Jones who was killed June 2 near Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in a small-arms fight. He was laid to rest Tuesday at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.