Columbia School Board: No tax hike, attendance is up, security discussed

When: Columbia school board meeting, June 15.

What happened: The school board unanimously approved the adoption of the final budget for the 2023-24 school year beginning July 1.

By the numbers: The $31.36 million budget comes with no tax property increase. The board also passed a resolution for the commitment of the June 30 fund balance; the resolution determines the area where money within the budget will be allocated throughout the year. The real estate tax millage rate will remain unchanged at 26.46, or $26.46 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed taxable property valuation. The homestead and farmstead exclusion will reduce tax bills by about $430.93 per qualifying property.

Attendance: Columbia High School’s attendance rate increased from 87% to 91%, with a goal of 95% during the past school year. In addition, Columbia Middle School Taylor Campus’ literacy rate jumped from 3% in the first quarter to 29% by the end of the school year based on the rate of students scoring proficient or higher on Text Dependent Analysis exams.

School security: Columbia Borough Council reached out to the school board to discuss a potential new community service officer agreement.

Quotable: “Dissolving this agreement would be abandoning our children and their safety during these turbulent times, not only in our country but in our backyards, here in Columbia, where crime and violence continue to increase,” board President Charles Leader expressed a written statement to council and school board members.

Morgan Huber For LNP | LancasterOnline