Tax hike planned in Unionville-Chadds Ford School District

EAST MARLBOROUGH >> Property owners in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District will see a weighted tax hike of 2.16 percent next year if school directors adopt a preliminary 2017-18 budget as presented Monday night.

The $84.9 million budget represents an overall 3 percent increase from last year’s budget. The tax increase falls within the confines of the ACT 1 index of 2.5 percent.

In Chester County, the aver-

age homeowner will pay $191.21 more in taxes next year, or a hike of 2.6 percent; property owners in Delaware County will pay $18.31 more, or 0.3 percent. School directors are proposing raising the millage rate to 28.41 in Chester County, from the current 27.69, and to 23.63 in Delaware County, from the current 23.56. Last year, the board approved a weighted tax hike of 2.66 percent. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 dollars of assessed property value.

“This (budget) invests in expanding programs to meet the needs of our kids including curricularly, socially and emotionally,” said John Sanville, superintendent of schools. “There is expansion of high school offerings, and a partnership with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to offer a sports medicine program. It looks for the continuation and expansion of our technology initiative, with Chrome books making their way into ninth grade. Bottom line – this budget fully funds our academic program and does so while showing respect for the taxpayers of the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District.”

Nearly 79 percent of the budget is direct educational delivery and student services. Just over 7 percent of the budget is allocated for administration expenses, and 11.2 percent of the budget is allocated for transportation services and building and grounds upkeep. Supplementals, coaches and crossing guards get 2.69 percent of the budget. The state funds 16.6 percent of the budget.

District officials are predicting enrollment projections for the 2017-18 school year at 4.099 students. It costs $19,000 to educate one student in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. Only three other school districts in Chester County – Phoenixville, Great Valley and Coatesville - have a higher cost per pupil.

Salaries make up the largest percentage of expenditures. The average annual teacher salary in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District is $75,096. The Oxford School District has the lowest average teacher salary in Chester County, at just over $55,000 per year, while Treddyfrin-East-town School District has the highest average teacher salary, at $83.141. Teachers in the Kennett Consolidated School District have the second lowest average teacher salary in the county, at $64,839.

School Director Gregg Lindner said he would like to see a 20 percent reduction in participation fees paid by student athletes. Other school directors suggested the participation fees be eliminated, encouraging greater participation in sporting activities.

Lindner said he also wants to see a 20 percent reduction in student parking fees. Students pay $200 for the privilege of parking, and it takes the typical student 20 hours of work to pay off the annual fee.

The budget hearing will continue May 8, and the final budget is set to be adopted in June.