1-Mill Tax Increase Proposed at Canon-McMillan School District

Canon-McMillan School Board approved a preliminary spending plan for the 2013-14 school year this week that includes a 1-mill tax increase.

"Let me emphasize 'preliminary,'" school Director Manuel Pihakis said. "We put that in there as a safeguard."

He said the board and administration is working to eliminate that increase.

The $65.97 million budget is on display and is expected to be formally ratified next month.

School officials have said that increased pension contribution costs contributed to the possible increase, and that questions still surround the amount the district will receive in reimbursements from the state.

The budget passed with only one no vote, cast by school Director Eric Kline.

Kline was not immediately available for comment.

A 1-mill increase would mean that the average property owner in Canonsburg would pay another $10.65 per year, while those in Cecil would pay $20.75 more and those in North Strabane would pay $26.50 more, according to the Observer-Reporter newspaper.

Editor's Note: To view the entire budget, click on the attached PDF.

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