MERCER COUNTY Sharon school board OKs borrowing for renovations

The school district won't need voter approval for a tax raise.
SHARON, Pa. -- The city school board has approved borrowing up to $12 million through a bond issue to finance renovations at the Case Avenue Elementary School and the Education Service Center.
The board voted 7-1 Thursday with member Chris Gavin absent to line up the financing. Director Kathy Hall cast the dissenting vote, said Dr. Donna DeBonis, superintendent.
The board has been looking at some extensive renovation of the Case Avenue building for several years but has been reluctant to incur the debt necessary to do it.
The Educational Service Center, which houses central administrative offices, is in need of a heating, ventilating and air conditioning upgrade.
The board opted to get financing in place now, beating today's deadline for Pennsylvania school districts to authorize borrowing money for capital improvements without first getting taxpayer approval for any tax increases needed to pay off that debt.
Right of referendum
Pennsylvania's Act 72, passed in early July, gives voters the right of referendum on such tax increases for the first time and it takes effect today.
Acting on the bond issue Thursday exempts Sharon from needing referendum approval for the $12 million debt.
That doesn't mean the district will spend the money.
The board hasn't actually authorized any projects at this point and could decide to do nothing.
Sharon joined three other Mercer County school boards who took similar action this week to arrange financing for pending capital improvement projects.
Farrell Area School Board authorized borrowing up to $25 million for work on its elementary and junior-senior high schools, Hermitage School Board authorized borrowing up to $11 million for work needed if the district closes its Hermitage Elementary and/or its Hermitage Middle schools.
Mercer Area School Board approved borrowing up to $10 million for improvements to its elementary school.