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Juniata County may see tax hike

Salaries, benefits could push costs up for district

MIFFLINTOWN — Juniata County residents may see a tax hike during the coming fiscal year.

The county school district’s preliminary budget is currently balanced at $37,035,080 with a tax increase of 3.29 percent.

Business Manager Richard Meily said higher taxes are a result of increases in salaries and benefits. Pension costs alone are increasing from $4,498,799 to $5,114,918, he said.

Meily said the budget also contains additional classes — a secondary emotional support classroom and one librarian.

The Board of School Directors is scheduled to vote on the preliminary budget on Feb. 8, after a workshop meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. at Fermanagh-Mifflintown Elementary School.

The board last week approved an accelerated budget opt out resolution, indicating it will not raise taxes above the Act 1 index, used to determine maximum tax increases. Meily said the index for the 2017-18 budget is 3.3 percent.

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