Greater Nanticoke Area final budget lowers tax increase from prior proposal [The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.]

Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA)

Jun. 30—NANTICOKE — While the proposed budget in May looked grim for Greater Nanticoke Area taxpayers, the final budget offered a bit of relief. The budget initially included a 5.2% property tax hike, the maximum allowed under state law without voter approval or limited state exception. The final version approved this week whittled the tax hike down to 2.9%. The rate will rise from 12.4473 mills to 12.8083 mills. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.

Superintendent Ron Grevera said the change was possible in part because of federal COVID-19 relief money and because the district only had to pay half the health insurance premium for one month to the Northeast Pennsylvania School District Health Trust, a consortium of area districts formed to lower insurance premiums.

The budget sets spending at $35.65 million and income at $36.75 million. If those numbers hold, it would let the district increase the fund balance by $1.1 million by the end of June, 2023. Coupled with about $600,000 more in this year's ending fund balance than expected, that would give the district nearly $3.7 million in reserve, replenishing a fund balance that had been shrinking for years.

Business Manager Tom Melone noted this year's tax increase will be offset for some property owners by an increase in the state Homestead Exemption, provided to home owners and farm owners each year using money from legalized gambling. The amount eligible residents will see knocked off their property tax bills increased from $174 in 2021-22 to $233 for 2022-23.

The board approved the budget 8-1 with Board President Tony Prushinski voting against it.

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish