Punxsy school board takes first look at 2021-2022 budget
PUNXSUTAWNEY — The Punxsutawney Area School Board had its first review of the 2021-2022 budget, which has an increase of $4 million and was heavily impacted by COVID-19.
Susan H. Robertson, business manager, brought a large packet that held the nuts and bolts of the budget.
“COVID-19 caused the 2021-2022 budget to go up considerably since last year because we are budgeting for the use of COVID-19 funds that we’ve received,” Robertson said.
She said the budget total for the current school year was $42,513,362, and it has increased to $47.5 million for 2021-2022.
“We’ve been allocated some COVID-19 money over the next two years, 2021-2022 and 2022-2023,” she said. “It’s very restrictive, it’s very limited for what we can use it for, and we need to stay within
those guidelines.”
Robertson said school code does not permit the district to go over its budget once it’s set for the year, and neither does the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
“I had to do that the one year; I had to show proof that we received revenue that we weren’t expecting, that we were required to spend in that year,” Robertson said. “It’s a plan that we need to roll with even if new things come along.”
Robertson said many predictions are that there will be a three-year recovery from the pandemic, especially as far as revenue and wages.
“Our federal funding is much higher this year due to the COVID-19 money we received,” she said. “Typically, we receive $2.6 million from federal funding, and this year, we’re at $5.4 million.”
“We are done collecting the real estate taxes for this year,” she added. “Our community, as they always do, has come through for us, as we are almost up to 90 percent collection, which is right where we collect every year.”
However, she said there was a slight drop in the percapita occupation tax.
Robertson said the earned income tax was budgeted very low because that was right at the start of pandemic.
“Right now, the collections are right where they’ve been, working with Berkheimer tax collectors because they moved the tax deadlines for filing,” she said. “We haven’t been seeing first and second quarters until later in the year, and they do expect it to decline some more.”
She said in the past, the district received gaming funds from the state that it could put directly into reducing real estate taxes.
“Usually, you’d see it in the real estate line, and after May 1, they would certify it,” Robertson said. “That is unfortunate, because if we do not receive that money our taxpayers are used to seeing about a $220 reduction on the real estate taxes, those who are homestead and farmstead approved. If we don’t receive that money and they don’t receive that reduction, it’s going to look like the school board raised their taxes that month.”
The budget continues as a work in progress. The public presentation will be held at the board meeting on April 1, 30 days before the board can vote to approve it or reject it.
Dr. David Wachob and Janey London, board members, were the first ask about the budget increase, especially the increase in travel expenses to $135,00, and how could they lower that amount.
“We need to be more creative in regards for Title I training, by having them come here or hold it virtually on Zoom,” London said.
“I’m not picking on the travel category; it’s just the first one that came up when I saw the budget of $47.5 million,” Wachob said.
Cindy Depp-Hutchinson, board president, said it was a lot of information to digest in one sitting, so there will be another budget meeting next month.
The next budget meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, at the administration building.