The Pennsbury School Board voted 4-3 to approve two requests seeking to raise taxes above the Act 1 limited of 1.9 percent.
The vote allows the district to request waiver for the Act 1 limit due to mounting pension and special education costs. The Act 1 limit is part of Pennsylvania property tax law.
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Board members John Palmer, Debra Wachspress, Josh Waldorf along with Board President Gary Sanderson voted in favor of the request to raise taxes above the Act 1 limit for the 2015-2016 school year. Board members Alison Smith, Chris Cridge and Dr. Stephan Kosmorsky voted against it. Board Vice President Jacqui Redner was not at the meeting.
The district is currently working to fill a roughly $7.9 million budget gap. According to state law, the board must approve a new budget by June 30.
Board members stressed to the public the request does not mean taxes will be raised, but it does give the board more options when it comes time to balance the budget.
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“We are in a situation where we are trying to do out best,” Waldorf said at last Thursday’s meeting. “We are doing our best to give ourselves some flexibility.”
The district will learn next month whether their Act 1 limit waiver is approved by the state.
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Pennsbury will hold public budget hearings at Afton Elementary School in Yardley on March 16 at 7 p.m. and at Walt Disney Elementary School on April 21 and 7 p.m.
