Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Taxes will be increasing in the Pennsbury School District for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
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Last Thursday evening, the Pennsbury School Board voted to approve a $234,082,381 spending plan with a 2.8 percent tax increase. The new millage rate will be 178.947.
In the 2022-2023 budget, $1.2 million is expected to be moved from existing fund balance to cover a budget gap. The district is expected to end the upcoming budget year with $15.8 million in the bank.
For a resident who paid $4,458 in school district taxes last year, their tax bill will increase by $121.45 in the coming fiscal year that begins July 1.
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The budget includes funds to cover increasing costs due to new union contracts with the Pennsbury Education Association and the Pennsbury educational Support Professional Association, according to Pennsbury CFO Christopher Berdnik.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith said the budget includes money for a curriculum review and renewal process, mental health programs, equal access to programming and supports, and short- and long-term projects for facilities.
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The budget also includes funds for roof repairs and replacement at Pennsbury High School’s east campus, Walt Disney Elementary School, and Makefield Elementary School.
Funds for the stadium upgrade project at the high school are also included.
Berdnik said the district continues to move forward on an estimated $191.2 million facilities overhaul that will take place over years.
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The district expects expenses to continue increasing in the coming years.
“The budget is nothing but a pig with a bunch of lipstick on it,” said Lower Makefield Township resident Robert Abrams, adding there was too much “pork” in the spending plan.
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Tim Daly, a Lower Makefield Township resident, chided the school board on the conditions of their buildings and urged the board to look at the Neshaminy School District’s facilities plan that closed several schools and constructed one new one without yearly tax increases.
Daly said he wanted the school board to vote against the budget.
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