Tredyffrin/ Easttown school officials plan 2.4 percent tax hike

BERWYN » The Tredyffrin/Easttown Board of School Directors last week unanimously adopted a 2018-2019 preliminary budget proposal that would increase taxes on the average home by $178 per year.

The preliminary budget includes tax revenue from a planned property tax rate increase of 2.42 percent.

School officials say this will help to close the projected operating deficit of approximately $6.87 million. The property tax rate increase as proposed consists of 2.4 percent from the legislated Act 1 index and .02 percent projected from referendum exceptions.

Major cost drivers of the budget include rising student enrollment, mandated retirement contributions and special education services.

The board authorized the administration to provide public notice that the school board will consider adoption of the 2018-2019 preliminary budget at its regular meeting on Jan. 22, 2018 and to publish notice of the board’s intent to file for referendum exceptions with the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The 2018-2019 proposed preliminary budget is available for inspection at the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Administration offices.

Last year, nearly 60 percent of spending was allocated toward instruction, 11 percent for school operations, 7 percent for instructional support, nearly 7 percent for administrative costs, more than 5 percent for transportation, nearly 5 percent for debt service, 3 percent for contingency and 2.3 percent for athletics.

The development of the 2018-2019 budget will be discussed at the upcoming Jan. 16, 2018 finance committee meeting at 7 p.m. in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District Administration offices.

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board and administration said in a statement they will continue to work towards balancing the budget and determining a final tax rate between now and final budget approval in June 2018.

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board encourages public participation during the budget development process and endeavors to reflect the input of joint stakeholders. All school board committee meetings are open to the public and have public comment periods.

Meeting dates and agendas are available on the Tredyffrin/EasttownSchool District website at www. tesd.net. In addition, public comments may be submitted to Arthur J. McDonnell, Business Manager, at mcdonnella@tesd.net or to the Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board at schoolboard@tesd.net.

There are more than 6,750 students in the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District, or a 41 percent increase in student population since 1990.

The district includes Conestoga High School, Tredyffrin/Easttown Middle School, Valley Forge Middle School, Beaumont Elementary School, Devon Elementary School, Hillside Elementary School, New Eagle Elementary School, and Valley Forge Elementary School.