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Carmichaels Area approves 2013-14 budget

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CARMICHAELS – Carmichaels Area School Board approved a 2013-14 budget Thursday that includes a 3.53 percent increase in spending from the current year.

The $15,292,818 budget, approved by the board without comment, is about $522,000 greater than the current year budget.

Business manager Amy Todd declined to comment on whether the budget would require a tax increase, saying the tax levy needed to fund the proposed budget had not been established.

She did say, however, the board, under requirements of the Taxpayer Relief Act, could only raise the district’s property tax rate by 0.55 of a mill this year. The district’s current tax rate is 21.5 mills.

The budget funds all existing programs. Some of the line items in which the district saw large increases include the district’s contribution to the state retirement fund, which increased $300,000; debt service payments for bonds issued for the school renovation project, $361,000; and salaries, $136,000.

The district expects local taxes to remain unchanged, though earned income tax revenue is expected to increase about $30,000; federal funding is expected to decline slightly; and state funding, under the governor’s proposed budget, is expected to increase by about $85,000.

Todd said the administration and the board continue to refine the budget. She also noted property owners eligible for the homestead or farmstead exception this year will receive about $225 from the distribution of state gaming revenue.

In other business, the board approved the Greene County Career and Technology Center budget which lists the district’s share at $477,466, the same as this year.

Maintenance superintendent Lou May reported the district is accepting applications for a maintenance technician. The current maintenance technician, David Franks, was hired last month to replace May as maintenance superintendent when May retires June 30.

The board accepted the retirement notice of elementary teacher Charlene May. It also accepted the resignations of Carrie Ricco, cheerleading sponsor; and John Menhart, head football coach.

Several board members commended Menhart for his work. When the board hired Menhart as coach, it believed it was getting a “good coach and a good leader,” said board member Jerry Simkovic. But what it got, he said, “was a greater leader who happened to be a good coach.”

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