Hanover Public School District has adopted a preliminary budget for 2008-09 that includes a 4.35 percent tax increase.

The school board approved a preliminary budget of $25,905,574 in April. The district would increase its millage rate from 17.72 to 18.49, a difference of 0.77 mills.

The increase will result in a tax bill of $1,849 for the owner of a home valued at $100,000, which is $77 more than a year ago.

If the school board approves the budget, the increase will provide an extra $699,000 in tax revenues.

At the start of the district's budget sessions, the goals were to maintain momentum in the district and minimize the tax impact on homeowners, said David Mowery, who was interim superintendent at the time. As the school board held more budget meetings, a third goal emerged, which was to work on improvements to the district's facilities, Mowery said.

Of the 0.77 mill increase, 0.25 mills will go into the capital reserve fund to help pay for short- and long-term improvement's to Hanover facilities, including possible renovations to Washington Elementary, Hanover Street Elementary and Sheppard-Myers Field. The increase will provide an additional $227,000 to the capital reserve fund.

School board President Art Smith said the board is committed to taking care of the district's facilities. "We want to be proactive instead of reactive for a change."

The remaining 0.52 mills will be used to offset cost increases.

State law requires

NEW INTERIM SUPT.

The Hanover Public School Board recently said goodbye to interim Supt. David Mowery and welcomed Charles Scott, a retired superintendent, as his successor.

Scott will serve May 1 to June 30 as Hanover's interim superintendent. He will fill in for Jill Dillon, who has been on a medical leave since Jan. 24. Dillon requested to extend her leave from April 30 to June 27, but Mowery has said she might not be back in June.

Scott, of Dillsburg, served as the superintendent of Upper Merion Area School District in King of Prussia for 20 years before he retired in 1993. He came out of retirement in 1996 to serve as superintendent of Council Rock School District in Newtown and West Chester Area School District.

Since returning to retirement, Scott has taken 12 interim superintendent positions. Scott said he usually serves at a district for one year, finds them a good superintendent and moves on.

Mowery and Scott will work together to make the transition, then Scott will work three to five days per week.