By David Whipkey
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Residents of the Steel Valley School District may be digging deeper into their pockets when paying their school taxes next year.

The board passed a preliminary budget last week that included a three-mill increase for the 2010-11 school year, which translates to a 14 percent boost from this school year’s budget.

Mark Cherpak, director of operational services for the district, explained following Tuesday night’s regular board meeting that increased costs in staff salary, retirement plans and health benefit payments led to the tax increase.

“Those three factors were the main factors in the increase,” Mr. Cherpak said.

Teachers’ salaries and benefits account for nearly $18 million of the preliminary budget. A little more than $1 million of the budget will be consumed by retirement benefits.

[Full story available at: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10056/1038357-55.stm ]