Springfield hikes taxes, but not as much as first planned
SPRINGFIELD » The last official school board meeting of the current school year was highlighted by all directors and key administrators present in the Stanley L. Johnson Board Room. Only a dozen members of the public were permitted to attend. Whether this will establish the “new normal” is a work in progress, as are overall plans for the upcoming school year.
In a critical agenda item, the board approved the 2020-2021 General Fund Final Budget of $88.1 million. In effect, the budget showed a decrease to the increase. The proposed final budget from May had an increase in property taxes of 2.6 percent, but was shaved to 2.25 percent by the final adoption.
Executive Director Don Mooney reviewed data, some unchanged from the earlier presentation including known impact of COVID-19. Local revenue -specifically real estate taxes, transfer taxes, mercantile taxes and investment income — resulted in a reduction of about $1 million.
With Gov. Tom Wolf’s short-term budget approved, state subsidies will remain at current levels. The budget did show the use of an additional amount from the “unassigned” fund balance. While the difference from May to June is only
.35 percent, property taxes show a small reduction.
The tax levy was approved at 34.4827, an increase of 0.76 mills.
Examples for tax rates, amount increased (and the portion attributed to the high school master plan) were: Property assessed at $100,000 has at tax of
$3,448, a $76 increase ($29); the property at the $147,020 median assessment will be $5,070, a $129 increase
($49); and a $250,000 assessed value property has a tax of $8,621, a $190 increase ($73). The projected Homestead Exclusive (applied to taxes for eligible properties) is $185.
The board approved a 30day the extension for 202021 school real estate taxes. The 2 percent discount will extend to Sept. 30, 2020; face value payment to Nov.
30; and payments received after Nov. 30 will incur a 10 percent penalty.
Regarding the high school master plan, Mooney said the district expects to undertake the last bond issue in the fall 2020 or in the beginning of 2021. Due to phasing in the financing for the approximate $137 million project, and retiring previous debt, the percentage of the budget for debt service remains at a stable 10-11 percent, the administration has explained.
One other issue related to the new campus concerns the purchase of the Eagle Road property (known as Fern Hill). The board adopted a resolution required by the title company. This will be the new location of the district’s buses, office use of existing outbuildings, and a garage.
Routine business included contracts for professional services and personnel actions. The administrator will be working on several pandemic plans for athletics, activities, human resources and administration.
“We want to do things in the safest possible way in opening. But (currently) there are no mandates on what we should do to open — only guidelines,” said Superintendent
Anthony Barber.
“This tends to pit districts versus districts, but this is not an easy proposition. There are different scenarios,” Barber said about wide-ranging concepts.
Barber made clear, however, he and the board plan to keep the entire school community apprised of those plans. The website is expected to have updates as soon as feasible.