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Pennsylvania School District Refutes GOP Mailer’s False Tax Claims
Carmichaels Area school officials are forcefully responding to misleading campaign materials distributed by the Republican Party of Pennsylvania that falsely claim the district imposed new taxes and dramatic increases in recent years.
The controversial mailers target Republican state Senate candidate Al Buchtan, who previously served on the Carmichaels Area School Board. One flyer claims Buchtan “voted to start a new tax” in June 2024 and then “raised the tax 100% the next year!” Another mailer features a graphic of taxes blowing through a home’s roof, suggesting significant property tax increases under Buchtan’s watch.
School district leadership has categorically denied these claims.
“That is false,” Carmichaels Superintendent Amy Todd stated plainly. “We did not impose a new tax.”
According to district meeting minutes, the school board has not raised property tax millage rates since 2019. The $5 occupational privilege tax referenced in GOP materials has actually been in effect since at least 2013, potentially much longer.
The mailer’s claim about a tax doubling appears to stem from a June 2025 motion regarding the occupational privilege tax increasing from $5 to $10. However, Superintendent Todd clarified this was a clerical error in the motion’s wording. The total $10 tax has long been split evenly between the school district and Carmichaels Borough, with the district receiving a consistent $5 portion.
“Our collection did not change,” Todd emphasized, noting the board plans to retroactively correct the motion’s language at next month’s meeting.
The misleading mailers have created significant confusion among Carmichaels Area taxpayers, many of whom have contacted school board members and administrators with concerns. The situation became serious enough that the school board addressed the matter during its Thursday night meeting and announced plans to issue a formal statement refuting the claims.
“This isn’t an endorsement for someone or against someone. We just want our taxpayers to know we haven’t imposed new taxes,” board President John Menhart explained. “For that to be out there, some of our board members are getting phone calls. We just want the truth to be known.”
When contacted for comment, Republican Party of Pennsylvania spokesman James Markley defended the mailers, stating, “Everything in the mailer that was sent out is correct according to the meeting minutes.”
District officials disagree with this assessment but said they do not plan to pursue legal action against the state Republican Party. Instead, they are focusing on correcting the record through public outreach.
“We’re most concerned about the taxpayers in our district getting the right information,” Menhart said. Superintendent Todd added that the district will communicate through its website and other channels “to make sure the taxpayers and our board have all the information they need so they can answer questions.”
The controversy comes amid a contentious Republican primary race. Buchtan, who resigned from the Carmichaels Area School Board in September after moving to Canonsburg, is challenging incumbent state Sen. Camera Bartolotta for the 46th state Senate District seat, which covers Washington and Greene counties along with part of Beaver County.
Buchtan’s candidacy faces additional challenges beyond the misleading mailers. Three registered Republicans in the district have filed challenges against his nominating petitions, questioning his residency qualifications as he lists addresses in both Cumberland Township and Canonsburg, though he is registered to vote in Canonsburg.
The May 19 primary represents the first time Bartolotta has faced a Republican challenger since her initial election to office in 2014, underscoring the high stakes and intense campaigning in this race.
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9 Comments
Misleading campaign materials undermine public trust in local government. I hope this incident encourages greater accountability and fact-checking from all sides during election season.
This seems like a concerning pattern of disinformation during the campaign season. I hope voters will seek out verified information from trusted local sources before making their choices.
Absolutely. Voters should be vigilant about fact-checking campaign claims, especially around sensitive issues like taxes and public spending.
While it’s common for political opponents to accuse each other of falsehoods, I’m glad the school district took the time to clearly refute the claims made in these mailers. Transparency is crucial.
This is a good example of how important it is for elected officials and candidates to be transparent and truthful, even in partisan campaign messaging. Voters deserve accurate information to make informed decisions.
Agreed. Voters should be wary of political ads that seem to distort or exaggerate the facts.
It’s disappointing to see misleading campaign materials spreading false information about the local school district. Officials should be applauded for swiftly refuting these claims and providing accurate facts.
It’s disheartening to see this kind of partisan mudslinging at the local level. I hope the community can move past the rhetoric and focus on the real issues facing the school district.
I’m curious to learn more about the specific tax policies and school board decisions referenced in this case. It would be helpful to see the full context and timeline from reliable sources.