At Tuesday night’s meeting, the Blairsville-Saltsburg School Board approved the 2020-2021 tentative budget by an 8-1 vote.
The budget revenues top out at $32,907,052, while expenditures come to $33,590,148. That is with the status quo and current staffing levels. Even though there is a deficit of $683,096, there is no tax increase for the district. Taxes would remain at 16.14 mils for Indiana County residents and 110.95 mils for Westmoreland County residents. Board member Molly Stiles said that she felt now was not the time to raise taxes with many people out of work due to the Coronavirus crisis, and she believes that there still could be some savings realized.
The one who voted against the budget was Holly Hall, who wanted to see a half of a percent increase in tax in case the district has some financial problems.
Business Manager Phil Martell said that the budget still has a long way to go before it is up for approval next month. Part of that is to put the budget on display at the district business office.
In other business, the board voted not to retain their current solicitor, Dodaro, Matta and Cambest P.C., after the end of this business year. The vote was split 5-4, with Linda Brown, Beverly Carnese, Holly Gibson and Rick Harper voting in favor of retaining them. After discussion, the board voted 5-4 to approve Maples and Maples as the new solicitors, with Anthony Canzano, Connie Constantino, Holly Hall, Molly Stiles and Mary Whitfield voting in favor of Maples and Maples, and the remaining members voting against. Maples and Maples take over as solicitors on July 1st.
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