North Hills School Board approves proposed budget with tax increase

If the proposed final budget passes on June 2, residents of North Hills School District will see a tax increase of .66 mills.

Revenues and expenditures included in the proposed budget total $91,612,966.

School board president Allison Mathis said that the major reason for the increase was a boost in enrollment and the coinciding addition of personnel required because of it.

Some of the personnel additions in the budget include learning support teachers at the middle and high school, a first and fifth-grade teacher at McIntyre Elementary and the permanent hire of a second assistant principal at the middle school.

Jim Cassell was hired as an assistant principal at the middle school in January of this year and will work alongside the second assistant principal once they are hired.

“Our goal every year is to make sure we are asking for the lowest possible increase that will enable us to educate and serve our students at the level the community expects,” Mathis said.

Mathis said via email that the board would continue to work with school administrators until the June 2 vote to ensure they are asking for the lowest increase tax possible.

“It is important to remember that communities with exceptional school districts that invest in education thrive, as is the case in Ross and West View,” she said.

Superintendent Dr. Patrick J. Mannarino did not respond to a request for comment.