Proposed Riverview Budget Includes Tax Increase

Residents of the Riverview School District could experience a millage rate increase next fiscal year.

Earlier this week, the school board approved an $18.6 million proposed final budget. The current millage rate is 25.3550. However, due to the county-wide property reassessment, the district's millage rate must be reduced to a "revenue neutral" 20.3398.

The buget includes a property tax rate of 21.18 mills—an increase of 0.8402 mills. Though the district only was allowed to raise the tax rate by 0.4272 mills, it received state-granted exceptions for retirement and special education costs.

According to a letter from district Superintendent Peggy DiNinno, the budget includes the following:

• A reduction of about $360,800 in staff costs through attrition
• An anticipated decrease of $23,000  in federal revenue
• A $120,000 increase in special education costs
• A $32,000 increase in vocational education tuition
• A $302,000 increase in state pension costs
• A $26,000 increase in cyber/charter school costs
• A $97,000 increase in healthcare costs

According to DiNinno, district officials continue to finalize staffing needs for the 2013-14 school year, and negotiations with the Riverview Education Support Professionals Association are ongoing.

A formal budget hearing will be held on June 3 at the high school library, and a budget meeting will be held on June 10 at the central administration office. A final budget is expected to be adopted on June 17 at the high school library. All meetings start at 7 p.m.

Anyone interested in looking at the budget can do so at the Oakmont Carnegie Library, Verona Borough Office, Oakmont Borough Office, R.C.A.C., Riverview School District Central Office, all school district building offices, and on the borough website.

A PDF file also has been attached to this article.

Join Patch for more community news or join us on Facebook and Twitter.