Easton Area School District to raise taxes by 4 percent

The Easton Area School District won't lay off any teachers or cut any programs for the next two years, but that news will come at a cost for taxpayers.

The school board voted 8-1 Wednesday to accept a proposal that the teachers union accepted last week. Teachers will take a two-year salary freeze, and taxpayers will see a 4 percent property tax hike in 2014-15 to curb the district's $5 million deficit.

An average homeowner will pay about $130 more in taxes. The district is also projecting a 2.7 percent tax hike in 2015-16.

School board Vice President Kerri Leonard-Ellison cast the lone vote against accepting the proposal, citing opposition to the tax hike.

Parents and students have flocked to recent meetings, begging the district to do what it can to not eliminate teaching jobs or programs. Those who have spoken at meetings have said they'd be OK with a tax increase if it benefited students' education.

Earlier this year, the board received approval from the state to raise taxes up to 4 percent.

But Wednesday, Easton resident Robert Horvath spoke for those against a tax hike. Horvath said he had a petition that 101 district residents signed asking that the district not raise taxes because those taxpayers can't afford it.

"Every year our taxes increase," he said. "We've never experienced a tax freeze or a tax reduction."

Horvath said the board hadn't heard from the group he represented because many of them can't make the meetings.

Chief Operating Officer Mike Simonetta said the proposal the teachers and board approved put the district in one of its best financial situations in recent years. School board President Frank Pintabone echoed those thoughts, saying Easton Area's future looks bright with this proposal acceptance.

Last week, 66 percent of the teachers union voted to accept the two-year salary freeze that saved 72.6 positions from being eliminated. The district will lose 29 positions next year, but 24 will be through retirements and five from resignations.

No programs will be cut, and there will be no furloughs through the 2015-16 school year.

Earlier this month, the union voted to reject a proposal of a two-year salary freeze along with a $2,000 pay cut for teachers. The proposal the union approved last week does not call for a salary cut.

The union and board's approval of the proposal includes saving 13 jobs in the high school, 16 in the middle school and 22.6 in the elementary schools.

Source: Morning Call