Ferndale Area School District’s board has unanimously adopted a 2009-10 budget of $10,591,007.
The budget includes a tax increase of 3.5 mills, bringing the millage for 2009-10 to 63.
The increase will cost the average taxpayer about $35, said John P. Kowal, business manager.
But he said most taxpayers actually will pay less in taxes because of state money provided through the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Act.
The current budget is $10,165,864.
Kowal said the millage increase for next year will help the district to continue paying for construction projects that resulted in a new gymnasium and other renovations for the elementary school and new roofing for the high school. A bond issue was approved in 2002 for those projects.
Another reason for the higher millage is general cost-of-living increases, he added. One mill of real-estate taxation brings in about $14,500.
All other taxes will remain the same.
Kowal said the board approved providing homeowners within the district a $213 decrease in their tax bills as a result of the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Act. The reduction applies only to those who own the home or farm where they reside.
The state funds the act from gambling revenues.
Local News
Ferndale Area raises taxes, says homeowners will pay less
- Local News
-
-
Mild winter speeds work: Entertainment venue may be complete by end of May
An unusually mild winter has accelerated construction of a new outdoor entertainment venue in Johnstown.
-
Man jailed on rash of charges
A Patton man is being held on $100,000 bond after police said he threatened to kill a woman, her family and himself unless she talked to him about a protection-from-abuse order.
-
Cambria abolishes 16 jobs
Following through on promises to cut budget costs, the Cambria County commissioners voted Thursday to abolish 16 positions, including nine full-time jobs.
-
Blogging with heart
Anyone else have this issue: The more I know, the more I want to learn.
As I am writing my heart month stories for this week’s packages, I occasionally come across a term or description unfamiliar to me. So I look it up. And then the definition or article has something else that sounds important, so I look that up. -
Wozniak defends his support of drilling bill
State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, one of only seven Democrats to support the Marcellus Shale legislation adopted this week, said the bill protects the environment and provides help to local communities impacted by the natural gas drilling.
-
Businessman hoping to unseat Wozniak
Tim Houser uses two words – “challenging opportunity” – to describe his goal in this year’s elections.
-
Judge tosses evidence in robbery
A Cambria County prosecutor said he’ll have to drop robbery charges against a Twin Rocks woman after much of his evidence was suppressed by a judge.
-
Shooting defendant pleads to attempted murder
A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday in county court to attempted murder and theft in a Nov. 18 home invasion in which the homeowner was shot.
-
Garrett man sought in Somerset crime
An arrest warrant has been issued for Samuel McFarland Jr., 33, of Berlin Street in Garrett in connection with Saturday’s robbery of two boys outside Dollar General on East Main Street in Somerset.
-
City man shot during alleged burglary
A Johnstown man was shot during a burglary attempt in Indiana County and then burglarized a home in Armstrong County before he was arrested, authorities said Thursday.
- More Local News Headlines
-






