The North Penn School Board Thursday night approved a $300 million budget for fiscal year 2022-23,
with a $12 million deficit, in a 6-0 vote, increasing school property taxes by 3.4 percent to 28.4712 mills, but also boosting homestead and farmstead exemption savings and rebate amounts.
Prior to the reading of the motion by Superintendent Dr. Curt Dietrich to approve the budget, board President Tina Stoll stood up from her seat and left the stage.
She returned to her seat just as Director Juliane Ramic seconded Director Al Roesch’s motion to approve the budget.
Stoll was recorded as "Not Present at Vote.” Directors Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell and Timothy MacBain were absent from the meeting.
Watch the entire board meeting on YouTube here.
Read the entire 2022-23 budget here.
The homestead/farmstead assessed value reduction increased by about $2,000 from last year to $9,277, and the homestead dollar reduction amount increased $51 to $264.13. All in all, there is $6.3 million allocated for homestead exemption. The board voted 7-0 Thursday to accept the 2022-23 homestead and farmstead exclusion.
Here is what that means for
primary residence homeowners who applied for and were accepted into the program: If your property assessment value is $9,277 or less – Congratulations, you have a $0 tax bill. For those with a higher assessment who are eligible for homestead exemption, the face amount of their tax bills will be reduced by $264.13, which is then taxed at the millage rate.
There is a 2 percent discount on taxes if they are paid by Aug. 31, and a 5 percent penalty on taxes paid after Oct. 31.
The school board approved six coupons again for the property tax installment payment plan, which allows homeowners to split their face amount over six equal payments, with each payment due by the last day of each month between July and December. Any taxes unpaid by Jan. 1, 2023 – installment and regular – are liened for non-payment and turned over to Montgomery County Tax Claim Bureau for collection.
Here is the rundown for the 2022-23 tax year for Montgomery and Bucks counties (North Penn School District has taxpayers in Hilltown Township and New Britain Township):
- Montgomery County: Millage, 28.4712; homestead assessed value reduction, $9,277; homestead dollar reduction, $264.13.
- Bucks County: Millage, 154.6167; homestead assessed value reduction, $1,708; homestead dollar reduction, $264.13.
The number of parcels on the homestead/farmstead program in the school district dropped by about 200, from 24,355 to 24,125. This is attributed to either new home sales – since the exemption disappears once a property sale transfers ownership – or primary residences being converted to rental properties.
When it comes to the
North Penn Property Tax Rebate Program, eligible homeowners must first qualify for the
Pennsylvania PA-1000 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The program is funded from lottery and gaming proceeds and administered by the state Department of Revenue. A main requirement of the program is the household income limit of $35,000 or lower.
The school district rebate amount will be 75 percent of the rebate received through the Pennsylvania rebate program and will include eligible homeowners, renters, hybrid owners, and supplemental payments.
Apply for the school district rebate program here.
Tax/Rent Rebate Program eligibility requirements restrict it to those 65 and older, widow or widowers 50 and older, and those over 18 years of age who are permanently disabled. The maximum household rebate is $650, and there are supplemental rebates that can boost the amount to $975.
Read the resolution here.
Read more on the 2022-23 North Penn School District budget here.
