est Jefferson Hills
WEST JEFFERSON HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
WJHSD Continues to Balance Excellence and Rising Costs with 2024-25 Budget
New and old challenges exist every year when school districts work through the budgeting process and the proposed 2024-25 budget has been no different for the West Jefferson Hills School District . Recent data shows that WJHSD is Allegheny County ’ s fastestgrowing school district , with an enrollment that increased to 3,426 in 2023-24 , up 134 students from the previous year . A demographic study completed in Spring 2023 projected the district will add 400 – 500 new students over the next 10 years .
The continued strong growth in the district is exciting , but also brings challenges that must be addressed in the 2024-25 budget and beyond , including more staffing and the need for additional classroom space . The district is in the midst of a feasibility study to determine the best options for addressing the increasing enrollment , most of which is expected to occur in grades 3-8 .
WJHSD Ranks Among Allegheny County ’ s Best Districts in Spending and Achievement
The district has been steadfast in its resolve to provide an outstanding educational experience for WJHSD students while also keeping the costs it can control in check to the best of its ability . According to the 2023 Pittsburgh Business Times , WJHSD ranked No . 41 out of 43 districts in Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3 in spending per student ($ 17,617 ) and No . 41 of 43 in instructional spending per students , but WJHSD was ranked nearly 20 points higher overall ( No . 22 ) among more than 100 districts in Southwestern Pennsylvania . In the 2024 PBT rankings , which came out just before press time , WJHSD moved up to No . 18 overall .
Final 2024-25 Budget to be Approved in June
With the growing student enrollment a foremost consideration , the WJHSD Board of School Directors approved a preliminary 2024- 25 budget of $ 67,967,993 at its May meeting which did not include an increase in millage rates for the upcoming year . The Board will vote on the final budget at its June meeting and may consider a 2 % property tax increase to help make up for the deficit of $ 1,766,619 in the preliminary budget .
Revenue is projected to grow by 5.67 % in 2024-25 , but expenses are slated to rise by 8.3 %. The primary areas for the increase in expenses , compared to 2023-24 are :
• Purchased Professional Services (+ 15.2 %)
• Debt Service (+ 12.9 %)
• Benefits / Health Insurance (+ 10.9 %)
• Other purchased services (+ 8.9 %)
• Salaries (+ 5.7 %)
Homeowner Impact if 2 % Increase is Considered and Approved
The district ’ s current millage rate is 23.228 and a 2 % increase would result in an increase of . 464 mills to a total of 23.692 mills for the 2024-25 school year . The median assessed value of homestead properties in the district is $ 145,800 , so for anyone living in a home at this valuation , the 2 % increase would result in $ 67.65 in taxes for the upcoming year ($ 46.40 for every $ 100,000 in home assessment ).
For district residents living in a home assessed at $ 200,000 the tax increase would be $ 92.80 for the year and for residents who own a home assessed at $ 300,000 the increase would be $ 139.20 for 2024-25 or $ 11.58 per month . ( see chart below ).
School Funding from Commonwealth Not Keeping Pace
The amount of school funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has not kept pace with the increase in expenses districts are experiencing and can be delayed , as was the case this year with the final 2023-24 Pa . budget being passed in December 2023 . School districts are required to pass their budget by June 30 for the next school year .
With state funding not keeping pace , districts must rely more on local taxes to make up the difference . A total of 31.1 % of WJHSD ’ s 2024-25 budget is projected to come from the state , while 67.9 % will come from district homeowners ( see chart ).
There may be more assistance ahead , though , as Gov . Josh Shapiro ’ s 2024-25 budget calls for $ 1.1 billion in new education funding as part of a seven-year plan to address a $ 5.4 billion fair funding shortfall outlined by the Basic Education Funding Commission earlier this year . The Commonwealth ’ s 2024-25 budget had not been passed as of early June . ( see chart on next page ).
Preparation for Debt Service Increase Began in 2013-14
The district began preparing for the debt service increases associated with the building of the new Thomas Jefferson High School ( which opened in August 2019 ), when the 2013-14 budget was approved . That budget included a seven-year plan to begin raising taxes to be added to the fund balance specifically for the larger increases in the debt service , which began this year and will be $ 1,238,000 in 2024-25 .
48 WEST JEFFERSON HILLS