Hanover Area School Board limits taxes, adjusts school calendar

HANOVER TWP. — At a special meeting Wednesday, the Hanover Area School Board voted to keep any property tax increase within a state limit known as the “Act 1 Index.” The index varies among districts and from year to year. Hanover Area’s index for 2024-25 is 7.8%.

Superintendent Nathan Barrett was quick to point out the vote “is a formality” and does not mean the district will raise taxes at all. In fact, he said right now no tax increase is being considered.

The move is procedural. State law requires any district that wants to exceed the limit to either get voter approval in the Spring Primary election or get state approval for a limited number of exceptions. In order to do either of those a school board must approve a preliminary budget 110 days prior to the primary election. With the state Primary moved to April, that means a district would have to prepare an initial budget in January. Voting to stay within the index means a district can wait until the end of May to approve a preliminary budget. All districts must approve a final budget by the end of June.

The board also amended the current school calendar to make Tuesday, April 2 a full day for students and staff. This is a make-up day for school cancellation Dec. 18.

And the board appointed member Jacob Hyder as district representative on the Joint Operating Committee that runs the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center. The JOC is comprised of School Board representatives from the five member districts.