Tax Hike, Jobs Cuts Part of Approved BTSD Budget

The Bristol Township School Board voted 7-1 to approve a 2013-2014 budget that slashes spending, uses a portion of the school system’s dwindling savings account and raises taxes on residents.

The new budget will implement a 4.23 mill tax raise and add will about $79.50 on properties assessed at the township average of $18,800 to the average school tax bill. The total millage rate will go from 192.2693 to 196.4993, which is the highest in the county.

A portion of the deficit will be filled through a limited number of full-time job cuts, program reductions, attrition and other measures.

The rest of the just over $6 million budget gap was closed by using $3.2 million from its $7 million in savings account.

The district received an Act 1 exception on taxes and could have raised the rate for next year even higher, but officials decided against that.

Here are some of the cuts:

• Eight full-time teaching assistants will turn into 16 part-time inclusion specialist (saves about $180,000)
• District-wide ESL teacher ($93,000)
• Student worker program reduction ($45,000)
• Three teacher’s assistants through attrition ($150,000)
• Special education teacher at Mary Devine Elementary School in Croydon ($93,000)
• Federal program secretary ($63,000)
• Grant writer/public relations position ($73,000)
• Vacant assistant principal position eliminated through attrition ($140,000)
• Overtime cuts ($96,000)
• Two full-time custodians will be replaced by four part-time custodians ($38,900)
• Elementary curriculum budget ($47,000)
• Athletics budget ($132,000)
• Technology upgrades ($132,000)

Under the new budget, the district has $122 million in expenses and is projected to take in $117 million in tax revenues during the 2013-2014 school year, officials said.

School board members Stacy Gerlach, Earl Bruck, Katherine Bachman, Frederick Black, Constance Moore, Patricia Koszarek and President Angela Nober voted to approve the budget. James Baker voted against it, and Helen Cini was not in attendance.

As the vote came in, a worried look settled on the face of 80-year-old assembly line worker Cathrine Gudkuecht.

Gudkuecht spoke to board members during public comment and asked that they think of taxpayers who are struggling when making the decision to raise taxes.

“I’m so afraid,” the 47-year Bristol Township resident told the board. “All I have is the roof over my head. I’m not really sure where I’m going to go if I lose my home.”

Baker cited testimony like Gudkuecht’s as to why he could not approve the new budget.

“The stories we’ve heard tonight; I’ve heard them time and time again,” he said, adding that the district will be in the same budget situation again unless something is done.

Bristol Township and nearly every other district in the area has been hit hard by increasing school employee pensions, special education costs and dwindling revenues.

“We’ve created contracts we can not sustain, resident Al Angelini said. “You’re going to run out of money. It’s inevitable.”

Board President Angela Nober and Superintendent Dr. Samuel Lee said the contracts for all four district bargaining units expire next year and officials will play a large role in the financial health of the school system.

“The future doesn’t look bright, financially, for this district,” Fairless Hills resident Brian Lachewitz said. He raised concerns about dipping into the reserve funds and a lack of revenues.

Other residents voiced their worries.

“My concern is next year: Where else can you cut?” Carol Becker asked the board. “What are you going to do next year if you have to make cuts because you have no money?”

“We have made huge cuts. As I’m seeing it, there’s no place else we can cut.”

Becker went on to suggest that the school district try to get past its financial hardships before embarking on the proposed $152 million dollar plan to build three new elementary schools and renovate the middle schools.

The president of the group that represents the district’s teaching assistants told the board a grievance would be filed against the district over the layoffs.

One district worker, who had their position cut, broke down in tears as the vote came in.

The new budget takes effect July 1.

Related:

• BTSD Employee Reacts to Possible Job Loss
• BTSD Budget: Some Cuts Off Table; Proposed Tax Increase, Layoffs Remain