Lewisburg Area expected to raise taxes for 2025-26 school year
LEWISBURG — Lewisburg Area School District is expected to increase real estate taxes between 2.2 and 3 percent in the 2025-26 school year.
At Thursday night's public meeting, the school board members directed Business Manager Kyle Winton to work on a budget that included a potential property tax increase within that range, a $400,000 transfer to the capital projects fund and the addition of three staff positions. The preliminary budget would be ready for approval at the May 8 meeting and the final budget would be adopted at the June 12 meeting.
Winton presented an updated look at the budget with revenues at $44,695,058 and expenditures at $44,961,594. Winton said the deficit went from $211,000 at last month's public meeting to $86,157 at Thursday night's public meeting.
The main differences are updated revenue projections in local contributions, basic education funding and Ready to Learn Block Grant, but there is less funding for special education. There are fewer personnel expenses, but increased costs in liability insurance, electricity for all buildings and natural gas for Linntown Intermediate School, Winston said.
A 3 percent increase would equal .6 additional mills, which would bring the total millage rate to 20.67. An average property owner would see an annual increase of $87, Winton said.
Historically, the district did not raise taxes in the 2020-21 school year. It increased taxes by 2.94 percent in 2021-22, 2.75 percent in 2022-23, 3.5 percent in 2023-24 and 3.5 percent in 2024-25.
Superintendent Cathy Moser said the new staff members would be a middle school assistant principal, a new special education teacher and a board-certified behavior analyst.
"There's rationale and justification for each of those," Moser said.
Moser and school board members and officials praised Winton for his work on the budget.
"The effort to bring the budget information, I greatly appreciate your work," Moser said to Winton.
Director Cory Heath said the presentation was "informative" with some "pleasant news."
"That's not always the case," Heath said.
In unrelated business, Phillip Campbell, the director of college partnerships at Lackawanna College, presented a pre-college agreement that would allow students to participate in dual enrollment from Lewisburg Area. Campbell said dual enrollment students would spend $100 a credit, which means they would spend $1,300 for a typical semester instead of $9,200.
Dual enrollment students can take college courses while they are attending high school. Campbell said one student will graduate from Lackawanna before they graduate from high school. He said his own daughter accumulated 30 credits before she graduated from high school and completed her bachelor's degree in three years instead of four.
While the school board did not vote on the agreement, School Board President Erin Jablonski commented that she liked the presentation.
In other business, the school board members approved:
* Forrester Environmental, Inc., of McAdoo, to perform asbestos flooring abatement proposal for three middle school rooms for $20,300.
* Clark Contractors, Inc., of Bedford, to perform Kelly Elementary School playground asphalt replacement for $67,083.04.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Property tax exemption issue could put disabled vet's Fox Valley home at risk
Few homeowners look forward to getting that property tax bill in the mail every spring, especially when the bottom line contains a number higher than the previous year. But no one could have been more surprised — and discouraged — than Kyle Moser, who saw that amount go from zero to $7,049. Moser is a double amputee U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was awarded two Purple Hearts for injuries sustained in November of 2011 during combat operations in Afghanistan. After suffering a concussion from a bomb hitting his vehicle, 10 days later while leading his squad on foot patrol, the young corporal from Oswego stepped on an IED and lost both legs above the knee, while also permanently injuring his right hand and arm. All of which resulted in a more than three-year rehabilitation stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. But here's where another big hit comes, this one financial and more local: Under Illinois state law, veterans with at least 70% service-connected disability have not been required to pay property taxes on homes up to $750,000. But as inflation upped values on homes, more veterans were being excluded from that exemption, and so the law was amended last year to allow eligible veterans to only have to pay taxes on the difference between $750,000 and their assessed valuations. Which would not have impacted Moser because his ranch house in an unincorporated area near Batavia, a specially-adapted home built for him six years ago by former NFL player Jared Allen's Homes for Wounded Warriors, had been appraised in 2023 at $720,258. With inflated real estate values, however, the Batavia Township Assessor's Office last year raised that assessed valuation to $1,042,175, which requires Moser to pay taxes on the almost $300,000 difference past the exemption cap of $750,000. Moser was shocked when he received a bill for $7,064.98 this spring, a financial whammy that hit particularly hard as he's also going through a divorce that, he says, is taking a third of his disability pay for alimony and child support. In fact, the money situation became so dire that last year Moser started a GoFundMe account because, as he wrote on the crowdfunding website, 'mathematically this is putting me on a path of bankruptcy.' Moser insists he never received any information about changes in the Veterans with Disabilities Homestead Exemption, nor does he recall receiving notification last September of an assessment adjustment, which gives taxpayers 30 days to file an appeal. The updated statute is based on the notion that disabled veterans owning more expensive homes should be able to pay the difference, say officials. Which makes some sense. But that reasoning does not apply to Moser, whose home was given to him for the sacrifices he made in defense of this country, points out state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, a Marine veteran herself who serves as vice-chair of the Illinois Veterans Affairs Committee. Plus, the fact the ranch house is modified for his needs does not make it as marketable, and if anything, she said, 'that should mean a lower appraisal.' Batavia Township Assessor Tammy Kavanaugh is aware of Moser's unique and unfortunate situation, but insists his home was 'brought up to fair market value' and that there is little she can do because there was no appeal and she's obliged to follow state statute. But Kifowit isn't buying the first part of that argument, pointing to comparisons of other homes in Moser's neighborhood, including a large executive-style house that has a square-foot appraisal far below Moser's home but is twice as large. 'It's as if Kyle himself is being discriminated against because his home is modified,' she said. There are of course factual errors that can be made on property value assessments, officials say. 'As I understand their concern, I will review the value for these properties,' said Kavanaugh, also pointing out that Moser's ranch home must be compared to other ranch styles. That aside, the Batavia Township assessor, expressing empathy for Moser and a willingness to help wherever she can, told me 'I do believe legislation should be changed. … Your disability should not be tied to a tax bill beyond what you can afford.' While the 2024 changes have given some tax relief to more disabled veterans, increased property values the last five years means more are falling into similar situations, according to Kane County Supervisor of Assessments Mark Armstrong, particularly in less-populated Illinois counties that tend to have a higher percentage go into the military and return home after service. The good news is that Moser's predicament has made officials more aware of the flaws in the current law, and Kifowit, who is clearly upset with the situation, says she will 'push for a legislative fix,' if possible. At the very least, she told me, there should be more than a 30-day window to appeal an assessment notice, which would be beneficial even for 'average people who don't understand the process and how it can impact their property bill. 'Imagine how hard it could be for a disabled veteran with a lot going on,' she said. More positive news, at least short term, is that when notified of Moser's tax obligation, the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation sent a check for $3,600 to pay for the first installment of this wounded warrior's bill, with Medal of Honor recipient Lynch noting 'we hope that this can be corrected as soon as possible so Kyle does not have to fear' losing the home that was custom-built for his needs. 'We are grateful for partners like the Lynch Foundation for supporting our veterans,' said Jake Zimmerman, supervisor of the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission who has been working to resolve this issue. 'I don't know how a property like Kyle's can increase in value by more than $300,000 in a single year, but I do know Kyle has given enough for our country,' Zimmerman said. 'And we're going to make sure he is taken care of.'
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Neighbours, gun club continue to clash over noise in Puslinch
PUSLINCH – As residents living near a longstanding gun club wait for the township's new shooting range bylaw, the club is concerned some of the newly proposed regulations will negatively impact the business. Representing the Galt Sportsmens Club at a Puslinch council meeting earlier last week, Matthew Moser said he has several concerns with regulations proposed in the bylaw's second draft , including the point of reception definition, hours of operation, holiday schedule and the township's permitting process. Similar to bylaws in the township of Uxbridge and previous provincial regulations, the bylaw would restrict existing shooting ranges to a maximum sound level of 70 decibels and any new shooting ranges formed post-bylaw to a maximum of 45 decibels. This follows the township's decision to implement a shooting range bylaw to mitigate 'the constant barrage of impact noise' some residents said they experience from the Galt Sportsmens Club. The draft bylaw was received for information and will return to council for final approval at a later meeting, likely in July. 'While we understand and appreciate the township's intention to include proverbial teeth in the bylaw as a measure of ensuring we remain actively engaged in noise mitigation efforts, it's important to recognize that many of the delays we're facing now are beyond our control,' said Moser. Moser specifically called out the draft bylaw's proposed temporary schedule, which staff said would restrict higher-impact outdoor shooting activities to consistent morning or afternoon windows and is intended to provide quiet hours on weekends. The group has recently adopted a holiday hour schedule with reduced hours on statutory holidays and full closures on Easter Monday and Christmas. 'The revised temporary schedule is restrictive to our members and would significantly impact our ability to provide a consistent recreational experience for our members and impact our financial assets at the club,' said Moser. According to Moser, the club has also invested almost $200,000 into several improvements to address concerns, including purchasing a sound metre, a permanent sound reduction solution at the rifle range and sound-dampening tools for the outdoor restricted range. An additional $500,000 is budgeted for an engineered sound wall that would surround the trap and skeet ranges and parts of the rifle and restricted ranges. But while Moser said they're ready to begin construction, they feel constrained by the township's permitting process, asking for a simplified process and blaming delays on procedural requirements and the site plan process. 'The most common concern we hear from our neighbours is that we're all talk and no action, and lip service. We're ready to act, but we need your support and help to do so,' said Moser. Delegating alongside Moser, Paul Rhodes asked council not to include additional provisions above and beyond what is already proposed, arguing that he and the 70 other Puslinch members often have land that they can shoot on but choose not to because the club already exists and has safety inspections. The club has approximately 1,580 total members. 'On the east side of the township where I live, it's not that unusual to hear informal target shooting going on,' said Rhodes. 'When it happens, there's no assurance that the shooter is licensed and shooting safely. From a community perspective, I think it's in the interest of the entire township to keep the club existing and operating.' Siding with Rhodes and the club, Mayor James Seeley suggested amending the holiday schedule to stagger the holidays so some are open every other year. 'People work generally through the week. If we're excluding those long weekends, we're possibly going to have people (shooting) all over the place,' said Seeley. When asked what the problem with the permitting process is, Moser said the new site alteration and fill bylaw is onerous, costly, and more difficult to work with. Seeley disagreed, saying he doesn't believe the fill bylaw is oppressive and is the council's obligation to put something in place to address the township's needs. 'It is burdensome, but it's necessary ... it's challenging, but it's not the role of staff or myself to do the permits for you,' said Seeley. A neighbour who shares a direct border with the club, Vasco Serrador, attended the meeting to ask what other avenues for compliance will be pursued if mitigation efforts are unsuccessful, like using the Environmental Protection Act. Interim CAO Courtenay Hoytfox said the township doesn't have the authority to regulate other jurisdictions' legislation. If issues arise, Hoytfox said the township is working with the gun club to create a streamlined complaint process, similar to what the township had with Blue Triton. Coun. John Sepulis suggested upping the required sound testing from every four years to every council term, which was well received by council. Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Forbes
Moser Unveils Limited Edition Duo In Collaboration With Alpine Motorsports
Moser has unveiled two limited-edition timepieces in partnership with Alpine Motorsports. However, the partnership between H. Moser & Cie. and Alpine Motorsports is anything but conventional. This collaboration, which began in 2024, emphasizes engineering excellence and shared innovation. This is indeed an unconventional collaboration with two very different watches - Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition, a high horology piece, and Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition, a purpose-built smart watch. The Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition is a mechanical chronograph that is meant to represent the spirit of Alpine racing. Designed in consultation with Alpine drivers, this watch features a skeletonized dial. The aesthetic choices, including bold PVD blue and white color evoke the aggressiveness of need for speed, and align with Alpine's branding. The design elements draw inspiration from the racetrack. According to Moser, V-shaped bridges visible through the dial pay homage to the triangulated suspensions of single-seater cars, while the central bridge mimics the shape of a driver's helmet. Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition is powered by impressive HMC 700 automatic skeleton movement, developed in collaboration with Agenhor. It features a Flyback function, allowing for instantaneous resetting of the chronograph—a crucial feature in the fast-paced world of Formula 1 racing, 72-hours of power reserve, and skeletonized tungsten oscillating weight. While Moser is known for technically advanced watches with eye-catching dials, the partnership with Alpine is taking them down the path of 'hyper watches' as we are accustomed to see from Roger Dubuis and Richard Mille. And Streamliner is good platform for Moser to build such hyper watch that has plenty of real estate (42.3mm x 14.2mm) for more complex movements and skeletonization. Streamliner Alpine Drivers Edition comes with an integrated white rubber strap and is limited to 200 pieces. The second piece from Moser, Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition, is even more of a surprising announcement. Drivers Edition is purpose built for the engineers and mechanics to enhance communication and efficiency within the team, ensuring that every second counts during a race. This unique piece infuses technology with classic watchmaking. The watch features a silent black screen that activates with a simple touch, providing basic information such as GMT, split-seconds chronograph, and a perpetual calendar. However, the F1 mode includes countdowns to race starts and notifications for key moments throughout the season, making it an indispensable tool for the team and for the fans of the Alpine team. The Mechanics Edition has the familiar Streamliner case with a Funky Blue fumé dial. The watch is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, syncing via Bluetooth to provide real-time updates. With a power reserve of up to one year in time-only mode, this watch is engineered for longevity, standing out from other smart watches. The Streamliner Alpine Mechanics Edition comes with a blue rubber strap, matching the blue fumé dial. The watch is limited to 500 pieces. A note on how to purchase the watches: Moser explained that the watches are sold as a set that is limited to 200 pieces and the retail price is USD 70,000. However, if someone purchased 2024 Cylindrical Tourbillon Alpine, they could order the Mechanics Edition.
