Peters Twp School District Budget Calls For Tax Hike

The Peters Township School Board voted to approve their preliminary operating budget for the 2026-2027 school year. The budget will include a tax increase of .32 mills. That equates to a 1.97% millage increase. According to Business Manager Brad Rau, the school district was allowed to raise taxes by 3.5% without voter approval. The $89,784,137 budget is balanced and has a $5 million reserve fund. The vote was 5-3 to approve. Directors Rolf Briegel, Jason Camilletti, Kathleen Chaudhari, Michael Lynch and Richard Soeder voted to approve the measure. Directors Thomas Adrian, Alex Binsse and Sarah Kennedy voted against the measure. Director Alex O’Neill was not in attendance. According to Vice Chairperson Kathleen Chaudhari, the district is facing more than $20 million in building maintenance projects over the next 5 years. There are two paving projects along with HVAC and roof replacements that are in need of attention. In addition to the tax increase, directors by the identical 5-3 vote approved a measure to file 2027 property tax assessment appeals to properties transferred in the district from July 1, 2024 through June 30 2026. Appeals will be filed on properties with a minimum sales price of $200,000 and a minimum under-assessed tax revenue of $500. A vote to formally adopt the budget will occur on June 22.