Eight school districts will be allowed to raise real estate taxes at a higher index rate for the 2020-21 school year, writes Kevin Tustin for the Daily Times.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education Act 1 index, used to determine the maximum tax increase percentage a district can levy before going to a ballot referendum, will be raised for eight school districts, by .4 points.

The affected districts are  Chester Upland, 3.7 to 4.1; Chichester, 3.1 to 3.5; Interboro, 3.1 to 3.5; Penn-Delco, 2.8 to 3.2; Ridley, 3 to 3.4; Southeast Delco, 3.4 to 3.9; Upper Darby, 3.3 to 3.8; and William Penn, 3.4 to 3.8.

Seven districts will be held at the Act 1 base level of 2.6 percent: Garnet Valley; Haverford; Marple Newtown; Radnor; Rose Tree Media; Springfield; and Wallingford-Swarthmore.

If a school board wants to raise taxes above their index it must go to a referendum on the May election primary ballots.

Created in 2006, the Act 1 index was signed into law to “ease the financial burden of home ownership by providing school districts the means to lower property taxes to homeowners” by way of gaming revenues.

Read more about the school tax rate here.

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