The Tamaqua Area School Board considered a tax increase in a preliminary budget discussion for the 2021-22 fiscal year on Monday.

Business manager Connie Ligenza said in terms of real estate tax, preliminary figures indicate a 1.67 millage increase or 4.2%, driving $537,611 in revenue.

“With the 1.67 or the 4.2 increase. … what that increase will mean to the average taxpayer in Tamaqua, looking at on a monthly basis, about $5.80, for that 4.2% increase on the real estate tax,” Ligenza explained.

Board President Larry Wittig was opposed to raising taxes.

“I just don’t see why the taxpayers necessarily have to share an average $80 a year,” Wittig said. “It just seems to me that we’ve gone three years now raising taxes and that’s not like us as a board generally.”

The presentation discussed expenditures, which illustrated an increase of $905,625 or 2.68%. District salaries showed an increase of over 1.15% which are affected by contract increases that are in place. Additionally, Ligenza noted a 30% increase in charter school costs to date.

A critical unknown heading into April is the specific details of the federal stimulus funding that will be distributed to public school districts statewide in the near term.

TASD plans to begin capital projects this year, including security enhancements stemming from a meticulous feasibility study that was done in the fall. The board will continue to look over information and wait on further information regarding the alleged stimulus funding before making any firm decisions in regard to when and where to allocate money.

“Right now, we’re going to be sitting on a lot of cash,” said Wittig. “Yes, we have places to spend it, but let’s face it, that feasibility study is full of a lot of fluff.

“Yes, we can improve facilities and be prudent with that, but I don’t know that we have to raise taxes this year regardless. I know it goes on forever, but it goes on forever for the taxpayer as well. … One year of a zero-tax increase, I think, would mean a lot for the taxpayer.”

Superintendent Ray Kinder said the state made an announcement about the stimulus funding, but has not communicated directly with the school district yet.

“It would be nice to understand what the true time limit is, what are values and how can money be spent, so we can take that into consideration,” board Treasurer Daniel Schoener said.

Meeting schedule changes

The board rescheduled its meeting dates, starting in April, to be held on the second and third Tuesdays of each month. Meetings will still begin at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively.