The Pleasant Valley School Board passed the proposed final budget 7-2 Thursday night, calling for a 1% tax increase, which is equivalent to a 0.25 mill increase.

Directors Janet Dooner and Denise Hopely voted against the budget, which will be up for final approval on June 25.

Hopely read a statement about why she does not support the proposed budget. In it she said, “Pleasant Valley was never a ‘look at me community’. It was a ‘how do we help each other community’. … The spirit of what made Pleasant Valley was strong and at times I worry that we’re losing that spirit.

“I see us becoming focused on appearances rather than on practicality. I see spending decisions that may look impressive on paper while many of our families are quietly struggling to afford groceries, medications, gas, utilities and rising taxes. I think sometimes we forget that those are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are real people. These are working hard families sitting at kitchen tables trying to make ends meet but still wanting the very best for their children. That’s why even a half percent tax increase matters.”

During the school board’s workshop meeting on May 7, business manager Tammy Smale explained to the board that a 0.25-mill increase brings the net tax on a property assessed at $143,289 to $3,707 annually, which is a total increase of $37.

The 0.25-mill increase is expected to bring in an additional $560,441 to the school district. The total millage for the school district will be 26.1355 mills, if the budget is approved in June.

“If you file the Homestead Farmstead and you qualified for it, that net tax column will drop down to $2,800,” Smale said at the workshop meeting.

The Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion is a state program to provide some property tax relief. The application can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development website or homeowners can contact their county assessment office.

Also available to low-income homeowners is the Property Tax Rebate. Information about the program and the form can be found on the district’s website under Departments, then Business Office.

At the meeting on Thursday, director Diane Serfass said two rebates are available to senior citizens based on their income. One is from the state and the other through the school district.

“The state sets certain limits. Every year since I’ve been on the board, we’ve looked at those limits and if we can financially afford it, we match the limits,” she said.

Serfass said the district’s business office will help residents complete the forms.

“You can get up to $1,000 from the state and I believe $750 from us right now, so there’s $1,700 coming back to our people as long as they qualify,” she said.