Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Pennsbury School Board approved their final 2018-2019 budget Thursday night.
The district’s $207 million spending plan includes a 1.5 percent tax increase that equals about $80 for the average district homeowner. The millage rate will go from 165.06 to 167.54 and is less than than the maximum that could have been imposed under Act 1.
Advertisements
Administrators have worked over the past few months to make sure they could balance the budget. They looked to reducing spending through employee costs, utility services, insurance expenses, copier costs and debt refinancing.
Real estate tax revenues increased by more than $400,000 due to recent development. Revenues from state subsidies, federal funds, PlanCon, and interest from accounts have all increased, district Business Administrator Dan Rodgers said.
Under the spending plan, there are a little more than $1 million for smaller capital projects, $750,000 for 10 new school buses, and several new positions included.
Advertisements
The budget includes $390,000 to add school resource officers across the district, according to Rodgers, who is leaving the district this summer.
Rodgers said Pennsbury will be spending about $70,000 extra to digitize all of the district’s transcripts. Administrators said the process will make sure they are following regulations and make the records process more streamlined.
Advertisements
“I think we have a strong budget being presented here tonight,” Rodgers said, adding he felt the tax increase is “fair” based on the services included.
Falls Township resident Frank Carr, who often speaks during public comment on budget matters, said he felt the budget was moving in the right direction.
“This budget is certainly better than the past three years,” he said.
Advertisements
