Sharon School Board votes in favor of 2 mill tax levy
SHARON, Pa. - More taxes are coming to people living in Sharon after the school board slimly voted to add a 2-mill tax levy Tuesday evening.
This came with major pushback from some board members and community members who don't want to pay more on taxes. Some board members say it's their only choice and that a 2-mill isn't even enough.
Sharon City Schools has heavily relied on pandemic assistance to keep the district afloat the past few years. With that money running out, the school board voted to implement a 2-mill tax levy on Sharon homeowners.
"You keep going to the people of Sharon for that money. There has to be other options," said one resident in the crowd. "Do you want to run a school district?" replied Melvin Bandzak, School Board President. "It's the cost of living in the community."
The vote came after an hour of discussion on how much the levy should be, tossing around a 5 mill, 1 mill and the neogiated 2-mill. Bandzak said the district wouldn't sit comfortably until an 10-12 mill levy was implemented.
"2 mills is better than 5 mills," said Brian Faber, School Board Vice President. "It's not as good as no mills but I think it's a decent compromise."
Faber lives in Sharon and was hesitant on voting to add another levy. Last year, residents faced a 3 mill tax levy. The year before that, they saw a 2 mill tax levy.
From maintaining staffing, supporting special education programs and infamous inflation, Bandzak said the 2mill will barely make a dent in what the district needs. A 3 mill levy would have broken even with the district's budget.
Other board members said a tax levy shouldn't be the only solution, inlcuding Deborah Roberson, who voted down the levy.
"There are quite a few elderly in Sharon," Roberson said, who is also a retired teacher. "There has to be other ways to be able to raise money other than to constantly think about taxes. Raising them all the time is not fair."
Audience members told 21 News off camera they're fed up with a new levy year, after year. They said this will only drive out Sharon residents.
Residents suggested council should ask the City of Sharon for financial help with its $15 million in pandemic assistance, but Superintendent Justi Glaros said it isn't that simple.
"Sometimes you have to do what you have to do and make the tough decision to increase taxes," Faber added.
The tax will start coming out of people's paychecks starting July first.
