Board Approves Memorial Field Renovation Design Firm, Tax Rebate Program

The State College Area School Board on Monday approved an architectural firm for the next phase of the Memorial Field renovation projects.

Weber Murphy Fox was selected as the “design professional” for plans to renovate Memorial Field’s locker room facilities and stands. The decision comes after a request for proposal was first approved for release in January. The board will receive a contract for approval at a future meeting.

The board also approved low bids for asbestos removal from State College Area High School’s North and South Buildings, to be completed over the summer. Bids were awarded to American Contracting Enterprises for the North Building and KLA Roofing & Construction for the South Building. Combined the removal cost is $154,077, which district physical plant director Ed Poprik said is budgeted for in the State High Project’s soft costs, according to a release from the district.

By a 7-2 vote the board approved the continuation of the Supplementary Property Tax Rebate Program. First introduced for 2015-16, the district has budgeted $100,000 for the program for 2016-17. The district had allocated $200,000 for the current year, but with participation leading to $62,000 in rebates to date, a smaller amount was determined to be adequate.

The program provides tax relief for eligible households in the district and the maximum annual rebate is $650. To qualify, a resident must be a homeowner and household income cannot exceed $35,000 per year, with half of social security income excluded from the calculation. The claimant or his or her spouse must be 65 or older, a widow or widower 50 or older and a person with a disability 18 or older. Claimants also must have been awarded a rebate from the state property tax rebate program.

“I think this is a worthwhile attempt at a program. I’ll continue to not vote in favor for this project solely because I’m not comfortable with the age requirement,” Board member Scott Fozard said, adding that a “large portion of our community” cannot qualify.

Business Administrator Randy Brown said the program and its criteria were modeled after the state program so that local rebates can be processed quickly, as the state will have already determined eligibility.

The board also approved district application for two Pennsylvania Alternative and Clean Energy Program grants for the Houserville and Radio Park elementary school construction projects. The grants would reimburse 10 percent of costs and commits the district to LEED Gold Certification for both projects, which will include renovations and additions.