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DALLAS TWP. – The Dallas School Board held the state-mandated annual reorganization meeting Monday, reelecting Kelley Kavanagh Watkins as president but narrowly opting for Kristin Pitarra over Patrick Musto as vice-president, 5-4. Musto was vice president this year.
The evening wasn’t without some drama, as the judge arranged to swear in new member Susan Allen didn’t arrive on time. After some discussion, Solicitor Vito DeLuca ran down a short list of those who could legally conduct the swearing in, ending with the person elected temporary president for the re-organization meeting — a job typically lasting only a few minutes until a new president for the year is picked. Michael DiMare had been given the job, so he swore Allen in.
Once the issues were settled and officers elected, the board adjourned and went into its regular monthly meeting, during which it voted to limit any property tax increase for the 2024-25 fiscal year to a state-set cap.
Districts must decide early in the year if they will abideby the “Act 1 index” property tax limits, which vary annually and can differ among districts. Voting to abide the limit gives more time to complete a preliminary budget. The alternative is to either seek exceptions to the limit from the state or seek voter approval via a referendum. Deciding to exceed the limit means the preliminary budget must be done much earlier, in February.
Dallas is routinely among the first Luzerne County districts to make the choice. For Dallas, the Act 1 index limits any property tax increase to no higher than 6.3% of the current tax rate. Voting to stay within the limit does not automatically mean taxes will go up; the board can decide to raise taxes at any rate under the cap, or not raise them at all. Dallas must now have a preliminary budget done by the end of May. All districts must complete a final budget by June 30.
The board also:
• Confirmed the appointment of Lauren Lewis and Rachel Patricio as substitutes and Adam St. Clair as flexible housekeeper.
• Confirmed an agreement with IntegraONE to complete computer and software system updates at a cost not to exceed $18,630.
• Appointed Jessica DeSanto as ninth grade assistant-in-charge girls basketball coach at $4,494, Rhiannon Shingler as eighth grade assistant girls basketball coach $3,713, and Jack Long as seventh grade girls basketball coach at $1,303.
• Appointed Brian Murphy as bus/van driver employed by district transportation contractor G. Davis, Inc.
• Appointed DeLuca Law as district solicitor at a base pay of $36,000.
Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish