The south at a glance
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BETHEL PARK
Bank sponsors free shred day
The Bethel Park branch of Brentwood Bank, located at McMurray and South Park roads, will host Community Shred Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 14.
There will be free on-site shredding of documents with a limit of four boxes per customer. There is no charge for the service.
There is no need to remove staples or paperclips. Documents accepted for shredding include tax records, legal documents, financial records, invoices, account records, medical records, cancelled checks and CDs.
Details: Barbara Provins at 412-833-5400.
CHARTIERS VALLEY
No tax hike
Taxpayers will not see a tax increase for the 2011-2012 school year under the proposed $49.8 million general fund budget approved unanimously last week by the school board.
Officials indicated they were able to retain the existing rate of 19.88 mills because of some residential and commercial growth in the district, as well as careful budgeting.
"We've reduced our revenues, we've reduced our expenditures," said Nicholas Morelli, director of finance.
Director Patti Frey noted that taxes have increased just $30 in the past 18 years. Chartiers Valley's millage rate for the current school year is the fifth lowest among Allegheny County's 42 school districts.
Still, the district will be losing $900,000 in state reimbursement for the next school year, said Mr. Morelli, adding that those districts with a lot of special programs for children of poorer families were hit much harder.
Superintendent Brian White agreed, noting, "We're not being devastated like some other school districts."
Still, some retiring staff members aren't being replaced and the district is looking into ways to pare down energy costs and meeting with bargaining units to approve school efficiency.
Despite a tight budget, the district was able to include some new initiatives, such as the One-to-One program at the high school which would provide each freshman with a laptop computer that he or she would use for the next four years. At the end of that time, the used computers would be refurbished for reuse.
First Published May 5, 2011 12:00 am
