Board votes not to raise property taxes above state index in 2013-14
mEkkpBrRv – In a unanimous voteI the school board opted not to exceed a NKT-percent property tax increaseI which is the maximum mennsbury pchool Board could have raised taxes under the state index without going to a public referendumK
qhe average assessed property value is APNITOOK If a NKT-percent increase were approvedI the increase would equate to AUNKON per average assessed property in the districtK
Board members gacqueline RednerI eoward doldbergI Kathleen wawackiI ptephan KosmorskyI Chris Cridge and gohn malmer voted to stay under the tax increase capK mresident Allan WeiselI sice mresident dary panderson and pimon Campbell did not attend the meetingK
rnder Act NI the state’s property tax relief lawI a school board must vote by the end of ganuary on whether to stay within the index or ask its residents for more through a public referendumK
doldberg said the board will continue to keep taxes as low as possible while maintaining the quality of education received by district studentsK
“qhe school boardI as it has in the pastI will diligently work to minimize tax increasesI if any at allI taking into account the need to deliver education that the community demands and deservesI” doldberg saidK
Dan RodgersI business administrator for the school districtI explained the key issues impacting the budgetK
“qhe challenges are the mpERp Emublic pchool Employees’ Retirement pystemF contribution rate increaseI a decrease in interest earningsI state and federal funding uncertaintiesI and the rising costs associated with maintaining and improving current approved curriculum and programsI” he saidK
Rodgers said the administration is in the process of the budget preparation and will continue to evaluate options through the preliminary budget adoption in MayK 7KH ERDUG KDV WR SDVV WKH finDO EXGJHW Ey gune PMK
qhenI the school district will possibly PDNH RWKHU GHFLVLRnV EHIRUH WKH finDO adoption in gune OMNPK
qhe total budget that was adopted for OMNO-NP was ANTQIUVOIMMMK qhere was no property tax increaseI as has been the case for several yearsK
In DecemberI Rodgers and goanne GRGzLHED, GLUHFWRU RI finDnFLDO VHUYLFHV, gave a presentation on the OMNP-NQ budget to the board budget committeeK
qheir report stated that the budget data ZLOO EH UHfinHG IURP -DnXDUy WR -XnH. Rodgers said there are three revenue budget challengesW real estate assessmentsI interest on investments and state fundingK
Real estate assessment appeals have increased and many assessments are being decreasedK
qhe report states that the total annual district appeals were UV district-wide in OMMV-OMNMK qhat increased to POR in OMNM-OMNN and to QRM in OMNN-OMNOK
In OMNO-NPI the total annual district appeals were PNMK In OMNP-OMNQI the total is OVQK
Approximately OQQ of the OVQ appeals in OMNP-OMNQ resulted in a reductionK
qhere were NP non-residential appeals in that time periodI which meant a reduction in revenues of AOOQIMMMK qhere were OPN residential appealsI causing a reduction by APMRIMMMK
Rodgers said other expenditure challenges are toW maintain current approved curriculum and programs; VWDIfinJ DnG VHUYLFHV WR PHHW VSHFLDO education needs; intermediate unit services; and charter school tuitionK
ee said the budget strategy to continXH UHfinHPHnW RI WKH 2013-2014 EXGJHW includesW developing budget optionsI conserving cashI obtaining better dataI updating revenue and expenditure budgetsI evaluating educational impactI considering risks; and keeping the boardI staff and community informedK
Rodgers said goals are to balance the budget with a real estate tax increase of NKT-percent or less; and maintain support for the most important educational needs with the limited funds availableK