Taxes are expected to increase for residents in the Pennsbury School District.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
At last week’s school board meeting, district officials announced a 2.1 percent increase in property taxes is needed to fund the school system. The board approved a final draft of the proposed 2014-2015 budget, which will be voted on at the June 17 meeting.
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The budget hike means the average resident in the district will pay about $100 more per year. The 2.1 percent increase is the maximum allowed as part of the state’s Act 1 limitation.
The district is expected to whittle away at a $184,359 deficit over the next few weeks. The current deficit was reduced from the $5.4 million, which existed just months ago, district business administrator Dan Rodgers said.
Overall, the district said the budget included $1.6 million in personnel costs. The money comes from retirements, a reduction in staff due to enrollment and fringe benefit reductions. Other savings include updated telephone systems and closing the Pennwood Middle School pool, according to Rodgers.
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The proposed budget includes full-day kindergarten, which is expected to cost about $700,000 next year. Board approval for the program has not yet been approved. Superintendant Dr. Kevin McHugh and Board President Jacqui Redner have said before they support the addition of the full-day program. Some money for the proposed program was saved as district officials said they realized they won’t need as many teachers as initially expected.
Increases in costs were connected to an increase in the proposed Bucks County Technical High School budget, technical upgrades and money that will be banked for new debt service. The new debt service is connected to future work that needs to be done to the district’s aging middle schools, officials said.
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The business administrator said there were three goals at the beginning of the budget process: balance the budget and increasing taxes less than the Act 1 limit, maintaining support for educational needs and to seek direction from the school board.
