Allegheny Township open to idea of merger with West Leechburg

Allegheny Township officials said they would be willing to explore a merger with neighboring West Leechburg, where residents are frustrated because Leechburg Area School Board is proposing a tax increase for borough property owners but not in other district municipalities.

Combining with Allegheny Township would place the area that is now West Leechburg in Kiski Area School District. Such a move also would take away a significant chunk of Leechburg Area’s enrollment and revenue.

“We’re always open to helping our neighbors,” Allegheny Township Supervisor Kathryn Starr said . “It would obviously be a help to us because it would increase our tax base. So, of course, we’re interested.”

West Leechburg officials and residents met Wednesday to discuss options for leaving the school district after Leechburg Area School Board passed a preliminary budget for next school year that would raise taxes for people who own property in the Westmoreland County borough. Property owners in Armstrong County’s Leechburg and Gilpin, also part of the district, would not see an increase.

Because Leechburg Area spans two counties, a complex formula intended to equalize taxes is used. So the school district’s preliminary budget includes a 6.7% tax increase for West Leechburg taxpayers and none for those in Leechburg and Gilpin.

One option discussed at Wednesday’s meeting would be to merge with Allegheny Township. The township is home to about 8,000 people, while West Leechburg has a population of about 1,400, according to Census estimates.

In addition to Starr, Allegheny Township Supervisor Rennick Steele said he was supportive of the idea. Supervisor Mike Korns couldn’t be reached.

“I like the folks in West Leechburg,” Steele said. “It’d be very easy for their kids to go to Kiski Area School District. It’s right up the road.”

What it would take

The first step would be for the state Department of Community and Economic Development to perform an analysis that would show the impact of a merger or consolidation.

Tammy Jo Capozzoli, who organized Wednesday’s meeting in West Leechburg, said she reached out to DCED to start that process.

“Clearly this situation is specialized,” Capozzoli said Thursday. “Not many have the knowledge of how to navigate (it), and that includes me.”

Allegheny Township Manager Gregory Primm said he advised Capozzoli to reach out to DCED.

“I think if the elected officials have to make any kind of decision, they should have all the data available to make the right decision,” Primm said. “My understanding is that they will do that study, but both boards have to approve them doing that study.”

DCED spokeswoman Rachel Wrigley said before an analysis can take place, both municipalities need to submit letters of interest to a DCED local government policy specialist.

“Mergers are rare,” Wrigley said. “It is up to applying municipalities how involved they would like the department to be if they are approved to move forward with a merger.”

Not all on board

Not everyone likes the idea.

West Leechburg Councilwoman Marcia Cole is not in favor of a merger with Allegheny Township. She just wants to leave the Leechburg school district.

“I’m not in support of a merger at this time,” Cole said. “West Leechburg is a great community, and we have a wonderful small town identity.

“I would, however, like to see our community not be taxed by the school district to the point of unsustainability for our residents. If leaving the Leechburg school district is a way to make that happen, then for the good of the community, that’s the goal we need to try and obtain.”

Primm said merging West Leechburg into the township would require a referendum approved by a majority of voters in each municipality.

Cede from Leechburg Area?

Another option discussed at Wednesday’s meeting would be for West Leechburg to secede from Leechburg Area and join a new school district, such as Kiski Area. Kiski Area Superintendent Tim Scott could not be reached Thursday.

Leechburg Area School District has 750 students and 132 of them, or nearly 18%, are from West Leechburg.

Leechburg Area School Board President Neill Brady said a financial analysis would have to be done to determine if the district could survive without West Leechburg.

According to district Business Manager Brad Walker, 23% of Leechburg Area’s property tax revenue for the 2020-21 school year would come from West Leechburg taxpayers.

“It’s not something you say ‘yes’ or ‘nay’ over the phone to,” Brady said Thursday. “You do a simulation and you do a budget modeling and see what would happen.”