School District Budgets

Two school boards, two different budgets, but the same good news Monday for taxpayers.

School boards in the City of Erie and in Millcreek Township met tonight to discuss new budgets.

Both school districts will not raise school taxes this year.

The City of Erie has avoided a tax increase for three out of the last four years. 

Millcreek Township schools have raised school taxes for the past seven years, making this year's budget welcome news for taxpayers.

Officials in both districts say the balanced budgets were achieved with a lot of compromise.

"This is another year with no tax increase," said Erie School District Superintendent James Barker.  "The good news for parents and students is we haven't had to compromise educational progress."

"It's one of those things that the administration did a great job on the budget, showing that we didn't need a tax increase this year," said Millcreek School Board President Terry Scutella.

Barker says the City of Erie had to reduce administrative and instructional staff to balance the budget. 

Millcreek officials say it was a challenge to balance the budget in the face of rising fuel costs.