The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

June 18, 2008

Lone voice raised against school property tax hike in Sharpsville

By Tom Davidson

SHARPSVILLE — A year after Sharpsville school directors faced a packed room when they raised property taxes two mills, only one resident came out Wednesday to protest another two-mill hike.

“I here to make an appeal that the board turn down this two-mill increase,” resident Jim Gibbons said. “All I can say ladies and gentlemen is I think we’ve had enough.”

The board — including newly-appointed director Daniel Houck — heard Gibbons out.

They listened as he detailed how Sharpsville’s millage is the highest of Mercer County’s 12 school districts. They heard him cite other school districts who are making due with no tax hike this year.

Then, by a unanimous vote, they approved a $14.7 million budget that is supported by a 67-mill tax rate. School director Walter Karsonovich voted for the budget but against the tax hike.

The hike equates to a 3 percent increase in taxes.

It’s less than the district could have levied under state Act 1, the commonwealth’s latest attempt at property tax reform, which provides an index that caps how much a district can increase taxes without a referendum vote.

Sharpsville could have enacted a 4.1-mill increase using that index, business manager Jaime Roberts said.

One mill brings in about $60,00 to district coffers. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s 1970 assessed value. A home assessed at $10,000 would carry a $670 tax bill under the new levy.

It was the first meeting for Houck, 43, of 44 Charles St., Clark.

Houck was selected from three applicants to fill Charles “Chaz” Rice’s seat on the board. Rice moved out of the district.

A fourth applicant withdrew his name before the board had a chance to interview him.

Houck was selected over Cameron McConahy, 32, of 57 Milton St., Clark, and Beverly Barrett Scurpa, 43, of 470 7th St., Sharpsville.

Houck holds a master’s degree in counseling and sociology and is working toward a doctorate. He works as a supervisor for a wrap-around services agency and is the father of two Sharpsville students.

“This is one opportunity to get involved,” Houck said when he was interviewed last week. “My wife and I believe in the district.

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