Garnet Valley’s school tax increase is lowest in 20 years
CONCORD » The Garnet Valley School Board closed out the 20192020 school year with two June meetings which included passage of the 2020-2021 budget. Between the proposed final budget in May and the June document, the property tax increase was shaved .6 percent.
The final general fund budget totaled $112,804,324, an increase of $110,081 (0.10 percent) in expenditures over the current year. The final budget required a property tax millage rate of
33.4028 (Bethel: 33.7842) mills, an increase of 1.00 percent over the current year. This represents the lowest district real estate tax increase in over 20 years, and is
1.60 percent below the district’s
Act I index. Eighty percent of the district’s revenue is funded by commercial and residential taxes
A property assessed at
$100,000 in Chester Heights or Concord would incur tax of
$3,340.28, a $33.07 increase over the current year. A property assessed at $100,000 in Bethel would incur tax of $3,378.42, which represents a $34.42 increase and reflects Bethel’s sponsorship of Delaware County Community College.
Board member and Finance Chair Greg Chestnut said the board’s goal was to get the tax increase as close to zero as possible.
“The unknown economic conditions coupled with the potential impact of social distancing guidelines on bringing students back to school made it necessary to generate enough revenue for next year while protecting against large tax increases in future year,” Chestnut said.
The district utilized fund balance to limit the millage increase. A total of $970,000 will be used to cover operating expenses and keep the millage increase notably lower than surrounding districts, said Business Director Chris Wilson.
“In addition, administration worked diligently to identify savings that will be realized due to the months-long closure caused by COVID-19, and will apply these savings towards the 20202021 budget and further reduce the necessary millage increase,” Wilson said.
Board President Scott Mayer said the final budget resulted from a six-month effort to find savings to reduce the tax increase as much as possible while protecting the integrity of our educational programming.
The final board meeting of the current school year included a wide range of accolades for students and staff. Among the recognitions, although virtual, were for a list of 29 staff members who have retired or left the district. Assistant Superintendent Vince Citarelli read the names, job titles and years of service. Mayer followed with the comment he “stands in awe” of the number of years — a staggering 484 - dedicated to the school community. The board also approved a sevenpage personnel list for various work during the summer as well as the coming school year.
Accomplishments for students, staff, retirees and the complete personnel list are including on the board’s June 23 agenda available on the district website.
In what has been arguably the most challenging school year experienced by schools (across the globe), Superintendent Marc Bertrando noted a unified effort.
“I want to thank the entire school community. Its approach to education has been more important than ever,” said Bertrando. “The product was the best we all could do together. We made it through by working really hard.”
Bertrando and the administration plan for little if any time off. He said he will send out information within a short period on what is anticipated for the coming year with the intention, he said, of “opening on time” in the fall.