Big budget gap still looms in Upper Darby after update

UPPER DARBY >> A brief update on the budget process for the 2017-18 Upper Darby school year offered some slight relief.

Superintendent Dan Nerelli said at the school board’s March 21 meeting $500,000 savings was found in medical expenses, bringing the overall shortfall to $10 million in an approximately $200 million budget.

A second look at medical expenses was one potential-cost saving area the district was waiting to hear about since the last budget update on Feb. 28. Another area savings could be found is in the number of retirements expected at the end of the current year, but those numbers have not yet been released. Even if the district raises taxes at its maximum allowance of 3.6 percent, it would still leave a $6.7 million gap in the budget. The district currently has $17.7 million in its fund balance if it chooses to use that as a supplemental revenue source.

Nerelli, and district Chief Financial Officer Patrick Grant will be providing updates to the Upper Darby community until the adoption of a final budget in June.

In other district news, the school board approved over $35,000 in donations that includes a playground and landscaping improvements.

The OK was given to accept a $30,000 donation from the National Association of Elementary School Principals and Landscape Structures Inc. to build a playground at Stonehurst Hills Elementary School this summer. The school was selected as a community service project by the group during their annual conference in Philadelphia this July. Unanimous support was given by the board when proposed with the donation during committee structure last month.

Additionally, a $5,000 donation for the Havertown Lowe’s store was accepted for improvements and enhancements to the Bywood Elementary School yard. On the topic of landscaping, a tree was donated to Aronimink Elementary School from Upper Darby Township.

The board also accepted office furniture from BMW of the Main Line and world language technology from friends and family of Jeremy Park of Springfield to be used in Beverly Hills Middle School. Finally, 30 trash cans donated by Villanova University will be used throughout the district.