Voters may decide school’s fate
Referendum on higher taxes could save Birdsboro Elementary
The issue of higher property taxes to fund full-day kindergarten and renovate a district school building may be decided by Daniel Boone School District voters in the May 15 primary election.
“We won’t get to (address) those (issues) without a referendum,” said board member Michael D. Wolfe at the Jan. 22 school board meeting.
The district’s proposed preliminary 2018-19 budget of $59,326,213 — with real estate millage at its maximum amount of 31.1664 mills, per the state’s Act 1 index — would result in a $3.3 million deficit.
Board members voted 8-1 for the adoption of the Act 1 Budget Opt-Out Resolution for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
That means that the board cannot raise taxes above the district’s Act 1 index of 3.2 percent without voter approval.
Daniel Boone’s current millage rate is 30.2 mills. Property owners pay $3,020 for every $100,000 of assessed property value.
The board must adopt a preliminary budget by Feb. 14.
It then has until the end of June to further balance the budget by reducing expenses and/or finding additional new income.
A third options, said Chief Financial Officer Loren Small, is to use $3.3 million of the district’s $5 million fund balance to balance the budget.
The district’s fourth option — of asking voters if they want higher property taxes — may be utilized by the board to either renovate the Birdsboro Elementary Center and/or fund full-day kindergarten.
After opposing the optout motion, Wolfe inquired about the timeline for submitting a referendum (question) to be placed on the May 15 election ballot.
District Solicitor Brian Subers said public school districts can seek voter approval of a specific debt, for a specific reason, and which is not tied to the restrictions of Act 1.
In lieu of spending $69,473 to study Birdsboro Elementary Center’s capital needs and determine future repair costs, the board approved 5-4 to not exceed $30,000 to study the building’s masonry for future repair costs.
Birdsboro Elementary Center will close in June after its final students have graduated from the fifth grade.
“Masonry, it’s an asset and we don’t want it to deteriorate,” said member David Rathgeb, adding, “I agree with Wolfe; there is no money to do anything with it now (renovate Birdsboro Elementary Center), but just study masonry now.”
Board members said Birdsboro Elementary Center’s major issues are the HVAC, handicapped access, and installing ceiling sprinklers, expenses which the $70,000 study might indicate would cost $3 million, or more.
That is money the district doesn’t currently have.
The study by Thompson Associates Architects and Planners, Harrisburg, of the current costs to repair Birdsboro Elementary Center, would have also resulted in the preparation of bid specifications.
Board members said the district doesn’t have the money now to bid out repair projects and begin the renovations.
The district’s capital reserve fund has $500,000.
When board member Aaron Durso questioned Birdsboro Elementary Center’s structural integrity and mold issues, member Jeffrey Scott, said, “I don’t want to beleaguer the point, but the facts are that we could keep the school open, but eventually is it equitable in the district? No, and why not have that building closed so we can do repairs when needed and when we have the money?”
He added, “When there’s a vote to put kids back in the school, there’s a timeline to fix things.”’
“We already know of some of the issues and what is needed,” said member Bucky Scott.
“Structurally the building is fine,” said District Superintendent James P. Harris, adding, “It’s a water issue due to bump outs and cracked window frames. In the summer, there were attempt to dry it out. I emptied dehumidifiers in each room. The mold issues were abated and the building is structurally sound.”
New board member Kevin Stroble of Douglassville was the deciding vote regarding the masonry.
Stroble, 59, was appointed to the board by a 5-3 vote to fill the seat vacated by the recent resignation of Dane Ochis-O’Neil.
“My thing is to make the building safe, and while it is unoccupied,” said Stroble about his vote to study the masonry.
Stroble is vice president of technology at smarttech Enterprises in Exton, and has two children in the school district. His oldest child is a 2017 graduate.
The board considered Stroble and two other applicants for the board seat.
“Thanks to the three candidates for coming forward and possibly volunteering your time,” said Wolfe.