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Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2012 7:19 pm | Updated: 10:35 pm, Thu Feb 16, 2012.

ECONOMY — Can a municipality secede from a school district?

People in Economy, upset with property taxes and school debt, have begun talking about the possibility of leaving Ambridge Area and merging with neighboring Freedom Area.

The topic has been raised by residents at consecutive Economy Council meetings, and in telephone and Facebook conversations.

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with people who think we need to explore our options,” Mayor David Poling said.

However, Ambridge school board members did not even mention the proposed secession at their Thursday night meeting.

The school tax rate in Ambridge is 69.83 mills, highest in Beaver County, and the school board has a proposed preliminary budget that requires an 18-mill hike. Freedom’s current rate is 44 mills and its preliminary budget requires no tax hike.

Poling said “there was complete outrage in Economy” when Ambridge Area revealed the possibility of an 18-mill hike after a 6.5-mill hike a year ago.

In January, Poling called Freedom Superintendent Ron Sofo to inquire about the possibility of merging, and the Freedom school board authorized solicitor Matthew Hoffman to prepare a report on the “law and procedures” that apply to a secession and merger. Sofo said the solicitor’s report, which has been shared with Poling, should not be viewed as the district’s commitment to the proposal.

“Our board has made no formal decision,” Sofo said. “We need to explore how this works. We need to learn more about the process.”

Sofo, after reviewing Hoffman’s 17-page report, said “it is not an easy, simple thing to do” and would probably be a 12- to 16-month process.

The process involves petitions signed by a majority of Economy’s taxable residents, a review of the petitions by Beaver County Court and a review of the impact on both school districts by the state Department of Education, according to Hoffman’s report.

“We need to do this. We can do this,” resident Jo Ann Borato said during the public comment portion of the borough council meeting this week. “I think you’ll start to see petitions start to be circulated soon by residents like myself ... Either (school board members) serve the people, or people leave your jurisdiction.”

Poling wants Economy Council to create an exploratory committee, but council President Larry Googins said he thinks the possibility should remain “a resident initiative.”

Some residents suggested launching a new school district.

“That’s almost an impossibility,” Poling said. “It’s more realistic to merge with Freedom.”

Poling said he has heard from people who think he should not get involved with school-related issues.

“I’m the mayor of Economy and I’m looking to see what’s best for Economy Borough,” he said.

“I think we should get behind the mayor,” Borato said. “This impacts all of our properties.”

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Economy may seek Freedom from Ambridge