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‘Lightening my load at home’: South Wilkes-Barre sale goes on despite heat

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Beyond the Byline: What’s that you say?

<p>WRIGHT TWP. &#8212; The Crestwood School Board on Thursday night put the finishing touches on a $40 million 2018-19 budget that is $1.9 million in deficit and includes a real estate tax increase of 5.5 percent.</p><p>The vote on the budget was 7-2 with school directors Maureen McGovern and Ron Sturgeon opposed.</p><p>&#8220;We have a lot of people in Mountain Top who are retired and are on Social Security,&#8221; McGovern said of the tax increase. &#8220;They can&#8217;t afford it.&#8221;</p><p>Sturgeon was not available for comment.</p><p>Financial director Albert Melone said the real estate tax hike &#8212; to 10.3889 mills from 9.8481 mills in 2017-18 &#8212; is anticipated to raise an additional $947,488 for the district and means $108 more in taxes for property owners who have a house valued at $200,000.</p><p>A mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value.</p><p>Overall, the budget lists $40,023,175 in spending against $38,025,374 in estimated revenue, leaving a deficit of $1.9 million to be covered by Crestwood&#8217;s reserve fund.</p><p>Revenue expectations include about $15 million in state reimbursement, an amount Melone said is a 2.5 percent increase over 2017-18.</p><p>Through previous negotiations with the Crestwood Education Association, an agreement was reached on salary issues to save the jobs of four teachers who were set to be furloughed.</p><p>In conjunction with the budget, the proposed fieldhouse/community center at the stadium &#8212; a point of contention in earlier budget discussions &#8212; was put on hold for now.</p><p>School board president Bill Jones said construction bids &#8220;all came in too high.&#8221; The board approved a motion to deny all five bids received May 10.</p><p>Jones said the project, except for site work which is set to begin this coming week, will be delayed until at least the spring of 2019.</p><p><strong>Security</strong></p><p>The board also dealt with the issue of security at its buildings for the 2018-19 term, with Superintendent Joseph Gorham stating that a search is underway for a resource officer who will formulate and oversee security at all three schools.</p><p>Gorham said at this point, four individuals have submitted resumes, at least one of whom is a retired FBI agent. Gorham added &#8220;there will be a full-time police officer on duty at the high school (secondary campus).&#8221;</p><p>In other business, the board:</p><p>&#8226; Accepted the resignation of Joseph Delluso as principal of the Rice Township school, effective June 30. Gorham said a search has already started to find a successor.</p><p>&#8226; Approved amendments to the contracts of Gorham and assistant superintendent Joseph Rasmus for the 2018-19 term.</p><p>&#8226; Over the protest of taxpayer Edward Conway, a motion was approved to eliminate a secondary campus aide position.</p><p>&#8226; Payments of $55,000 and $1,250 out of the capital projects fund were approved for the Quad 3 Group for work on the fieldhouse project.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Gorham </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_new_super3_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Gorham </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Huntington</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Crestwood budget, tax hike become official