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Norwin schools raise taxes
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The Norwin school board adopted a final budget of $58.9 million for 2012-13 that will raise the real estate tax rate by 1.45 mills for property owners in the Westmoreland County section of the district.
The majority of the district is in Westmoreland, but about a dozen homes are in South Versailles and White Oak in Allegheny County.
The new tax rate of 68.45 mills means the owner of a home in the Westmoreland County portion of the district with an assessed value of $23,500 -- the average in Norwin -- will pay $36.75 more in school real estate taxes next year, according to the district.
The 2012-13 budget is $2.2 million, or 3.9 percent, higher than the current spending plan, with increases in expenditures occurring in state retirement contributions, health care costs and bond issue repayments.
In February, when Gov. Tom Corbett's state budget proposal was released, the district faced a $2.9 million deficit.
By May, when the district adopted a preliminary budget, the deficit had been trimmed to $462,000.
When the board adopted the final budget June 20, the deficit was $138,000. That amount will be made up through the fund balance.
Under the new budget, total salaries in the district will decline by $450,670 from the current spending plan, according to officials.
The salary decrease is attributed to retirements and the elimination of positions.
As of last week, 19 teachers had retired and seven had resigned. Eight of those were not replaced.
John Wilson, district business manager, said in May that the eight eliminated teaching positions were spread across kindergarten through grade 12 and did not result in a decrease in course offerings.
In addition, three administrators retired and one administrative position was eliminated.
Six instructional aide positions, four secretarial jobs and one part-time custodial position also were eliminated, and three custodians retired.
First Published June 28, 2012 5:00 am
