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Metcalfe letter won’t affect waiver request
Source:
Cranberry Eagle
Written by:
Jared Stonesifer
Published:
February 1, 2012
A letter sent by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe to the governor will not influence any decision to approve or deny Seneca Valley’s application for exceptions under Act 1, a spokesman with the state said.
State Department of Education spokesman Tim Eller said the letter will not factor into the process because Gov. Tom Corbett has no role in determining or influencing the status of school districts’ application for exceptions.
Metcalfe sent the letter less than two weeks ago, urging the governor to deny Seneca Valley’s application.
That application, if approved by officials in the state Department of Education, would allow Seneca Valley to raise property taxes by more than what’s currently allowed under its inflationary index, which is set by the state.
Seneca Valley’s index, or rate by which it is allowed to raise taxes this year, is 2 percent, which equates to a 2.11-mill tax increase. If the board wants to raise taxes by more than that index, officials with the state Department of Education first must grant permission.
While the school board in mid-January voted to apply for the exceptions, board members previously have said any tax hike would be only one of several tools used to help close a $4.8 million budget deficit for the 2012-13 school year.
In his letter to the governor, Metcalfe, R-12th, did his best to ensure that the state denies Seneca Valley’s application for exceptions.
He asked Corbett to “strongly encourage your administration to carefully scrutinize” Seneca Valley’s “latest maneuver” to increase taxes without first having a voter referendum on the matter.
He also told the governor that all exceptions under state law should be abolished, and suggested instead that any tax increase above the index must be approved by a voter referendum.
District officials previously said they expect a decision to be rendered on its application by the end of February.
Eller acknowledged that Metcalfe’s letter to the governor is an unusual attempt to block a potential property tax increase and added that as long as Seneca Valley meets the guidelines for exceptions, the Department of Education must grant approval.
“The governor has no discretion in denying applications for exception,” Eller said. “As long as a school district meets the requirements under law and justifies reasons for the exceptions being granted, the law requires that the department grants approval. (Metcalfe’s letter) will not affect that decision.”
Repeated calls to Corbett’s office were not returned.
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