Full-Day Kindergarten, Tax Hike Coming to Pennsbury

As part of the 2014-2015 budget approved Tuesday night by the Pennsbury School Board, the district will add full-day kindergarten and a tax increase.

The school board voted 5-4 for the budget, which will increase taxes by about $100 per year, per an average household in the district. The 2.1 percent tax increase is the maximum allowed as part of the state’s Act 1 limitation. Officials said the tax will bring in $2.7 million.

The final budget is roughly $182 million.

Board President Jacqui Redner and board members John Palmer, Debra DeBlasio, Debra Wachspress and Joshua Waldorf voted for the budget. Board members Chris Cridge, Gary Sanderson, Dr. Steve Kosmorsky and Vice President Alison Smith voted against the budget.

“I’m not going to vote for this budget,” Cridge said. “I think (kindergarten) might be the right idea, but it’s not the right time.”

Smith said she could not vote to approve full-day kindergarten due financial obligations the district has. She added that she knew it was a good idea but not sure if it would be the best use of district tax dollars at this time.

“It is the right decision, perhaps at the wrong time,” Sanderson said, adding it was a tough decision.

Redner defended the full-day kindergarten program and said the program was not a daycare service, like some board members suggested. Her comments were met with some applause from the audience.

The tax hike is the first in several years in the district.

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 reduced utility spending and closing the Pennwood Middle School pool, according to Rodgers.

Salary and benefit costs make up the largest chunk of the district’s budget.

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 schools, officials said.

The district will have to bring on eight new teachers and less than a dozen aides for the new kindergarten program, officials have said.

Residents who qualify can take advantage of the state’s gambling credit, officials said, citing that homeowners can earn a rebate worth several hundred dollars.

The board also approved funding the Bucks County Technical High School budget for next year.

Here’s a letter the district has prepared for parents:

Click to access Letter%20to%20Parents%20and%20Guardians%20Registering%20for%20Kindergarten.pdf