School Board Discusses Possibility of Tax Hike

The Saucon Valley School Board met Jan. 22 and discussed the initial 2013-14 budget proposal for the district, in which spending cuts are being made in order to minimize or avoid altogether the district's first tax hike in five years.

The preliminary budget that was presented includes a proposed tax increase of 1.66 percent, which would raise annual property taxes by approximately $88 for a property with an assessed value of $100,000.

Without any kind of tax increase, the district would need to use $475,000 of savings to balance the budget.

Superintendent Dr. Sandra Fellin's proposal calls for the elimination of a third grade teaching position, a middle school technology teaching position, and a part-time consumer science teaching position, all which would come through attrition.

"Not replacing a school bus would also save $105,000," Fellin added.

Although the preliminary budget was not voted upon at the meeting, the board unanimously agreed that it will not raise taxes above the 1.7 percent state cap on annual property tax hikes.

"This doesn't mean we have to go at 1.7 percent," board member Bryan Eichfeld said.