The Neshaminy School Board voted to pass a measure to urge state lawmakers to take action to correct perceived problems in the pension system for public school employees.
The board approved the resolution 8-0 at their most recent meeting.
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Board president Scott Congdon gave an overview of the resolution, which asks state officials to take action to alter the current Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). The PSERS contributions to the state fund are hurting districts financially and will only increase in the coming years, Congdon said.
Districts across the state have seen mandatory contributions rise in recent years from 4.23 percent in the 2004-2005 budget year to 21.4 percent for the 2014-15 budget year.
“Our funding is dwindling and our responsibility is going up,” Congdon said. He added that the increase pension contributions could hurt funding for students that enrich students.
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Board member Mike Morris called the increasing PSERS contributions a “train wreck” for the state. His thoughts have been echoed by school board members from other area districts.
The resolution comes from a district that is struggling to fill a nearly $14 million budget gap. The hole has to be filled before the June 30 school budget deadline.
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The board at the meeting also discussed a planned monthly meeting series. District administration, local state representatives and school board members Mark Shubin and Sue Cummings will attend.
Congdon said recently the meetings, which are a new addition to the district, are in an effort to bring issues facing the district to local legislatures representing the area in Harrisburg.
