Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Pennsbury School Board voted Thursday evening to increase taxes for the upcoming fiscal year.
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The board voted 6-2 to approve the $243,614,136 budget for the district that covers Falls Township, Lower Makefield Township, Yardley Borough, and Tullytown Borough. School board members Jim Prokopiak and Jeannine Delwich voted against the budget.
The 4.1 percent increase will average $177 more for the average property.
The budget includes a 4.07 percent spending increase for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.
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The increase is caused by rising pension, charter school, and special education costs. Part of the increase will also help the district put money aside for proposed renovations or construction of a new high school, which could cost between $166 million and $213 million, Pennsbury CFO Chris Berdnik said in a past budget presentation.
The district spends 73 percent of its budget on salary and benefits.
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The district’s spending on salary and benefits will grow by $5.7 million, a $1.3 million bond payment will be due, nearly $1 million is needed for technology replacement, the district expects to spend $738,000 more in energy costs in the 2023-2024 school year, which runs from July 1 to June 30, 2024, Berdnik said.
Looking toward the future, Pennsbury aims to direct more funds to capital project accounts to have less of a reliance on borrowed money.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith said Pennsbury will buy Chromebooks, which will save on long-term leasing costs. There is an initial upfront cost, but the district will not pay yearly leasing costs.
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The distribution of COVID-19 relief funds to school districts has been ceased for the fiscal year 2023-2024.
Several people at public comment mentioned the tax increase and asked if it was necessary.
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Board Member Prokopiak said he knows some people in the community are struggling and the board needs to look harder before raising taxes.
“I think we really need to look at everything, and that’s why I am going to be voting no,” he said.
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Editor’s Note: This article has corrected to reflect that board members Jim Prokopiak and Jeannine Delwich voted against the budget. A previous version that said Chip Taylor voted against it was incorrect.
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