In June 2014, Neshaminy School District Superintendent Robert Copeland warned the 2015-2016 operating budget would likely include a tax increase.
Thankfully for taxpayers, he was wrong.
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The school board approved a $175.7 million spending plan Tuesday evening that keeps taxes at their current 152 millage rate. This year is the sixth the district has put off raising property taxes. The average tax bill in the district is just over $4,100.
The budget accounts for pulling $7.7 million from reserves to fill a budget gap. District business administrator Barbara Markowitz said she does not expect the district to touch the reserve funds this year, as has happened in previous years.
The budget is built around fifth grade moving from the elementary schools to the middle schools, according to school board member Steve Pirritano.
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The district is planning to spend capital funds of new educational programs, new textbooks, iPad for middle school students, five new buses, stadium light replacement at the high school, locker reconstruction at the middle school and more.
Copeland said last month that money will be saved by bringing some students back into the district from the Bucks County Intermediate Unit.
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The board also voted to draw roughly $3 million from a reserve account. The money will be used to make state-mandated payments into the Pennsylvania School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS.) School board President Scott Congdon said just because they money is allotted, it does not mean all of it will be used.
Copeland, who is leaving Neshaminy at the end of the month for the Lower Merion School District, said taxes in the coming years will likely go up.
