More small district woes

School taxes could jump 14 percent

By CHRISTOPHER RUVO
The Intelligencer

Riegelsville taxpayers would pay 14.3 percent more in school property taxes under next year's proposed budget from the Easton Area School District.

The borough at the northeastern tip of Bucks County sends students across the county line to the school district in Northampton County, a situation some in the riverside enclave would like to change because of what they feel are high school taxes.

Under Easton's proposed $121.8 million 2008-09 budget, property owners in Riegelsville, which has 68 students in Easton schools, would pay a millage rate of 159.46 — a nearly 20 mill increase. That would result in a property tax bill of $3,827 for a home assessed at $24,000, up $479.

Homeowners approved to receive a property tax rebate through the state's gambling revenues would have $233 knocked off the 2008-09 bill, bringing the average bill down to $3,594.

A mill is a tax of $1 on every $1,000 of a property's assessed value.

If the same $24,000 Riegelsville home were in Palisades, the Upper Bucks school district that abuts Riegelsville, the owner would pay $2,400 under a proposed 2008-09 budget.

Qualified homeowners here would receive a rebate of $233 thanks to casino monies, knocking down the average bill to $2,167.

That's a big reason why the Riegelsville Tax and Education Coalition is pursuing transferring the borough's students to Palisades, despite two rulings that denied the move and opposition from some borough residents who wish to remain in Easton.

“The tax inequity issue is very critical,” said William Casey, a Doylestown lawyer representing the coalition as it pursues its case for secession from Easton before the Commonwealth Court.

Although a state school spending law, Act 1, caps Easton's allowed tax increase at 5.6 percent, the district has qualified for exceptions that allow the rate to jump well beyond that, said Jeffrey Bader, Easton's business manager.

Bader cautioned that the budget is preliminary and could be whittled down.

“We're always looking at getting down costs,” said Bader, who noted that everything from fixed expenses like salaries and fuel to rising special education costs is driving up spending.

Still, the Riegelsville coalition wants to become Palisades Pirates.

The group has argued that Riegelsville, which is surrounded by country townships, fits in better in the rural 2,100-student Palisades school district than the 9,000-student, urbanized Easton.

The town is contiguous with Palisades, but not with Easton, and has ties to the Upper Bucks communities that make up Palisades through the library, local sports leagues and emergency services.

Easton's final budget will have to be approved before June 30. It could be voted on at a special meeting scheduled for May 29.

High school students from Riegelsville have been attending Easton since 1932, when a school building in Durham became overcrowded. By 1965, the state consolidated school districts and all Riegelsville residents were attending Easton schools.

“It was a good thing for a long time. But now that Palisades is really going, it's time for the kids to go there,” said Casey.