Jun 23, 2016 1 min read

CANONSBURG – The Canon-McMillan board of directors approved a $79 million spending budget for the 2016-17 school year Thursday that includes a 2-mill increase to a rate of 110 mills. That will generate an additional $800,000 in revenue, according to business manager Jodi Mansmann.

Board member Paul Scarmazzi was the sole dissenting vote, explaining he felt “there were more creative solutions” than the presented budget.

The average assessment of a home in Canonsburg is $158,000, which would see an increase of $22 in property taxes; for Cecil residents, the average home valued at $325,000 will see an additional $57 in taxes per year; in North Strabane, the average value of a home at $297,000 means an additional $55 in taxes.

Mannsman said major cost increases were in personnel – 8 percent – and a 4 percent increase in retirement pension contributions. The retirement costs make up $9.5 million of the budget, according to school data. Additionally, looming capital improvement projects, like the renovation of the high school through 2018, is projected to cost $15 million. The top expense was regular education costs at $27.8 million.