Abington School Board Reviews Budget, All Employees Agree to Wage Freeze

The Abington School Board reviewed the district’s 2011-12 proposed final budget at its meeting last night—and got some numbers from the state.

Abington School District Business Manager Chris Lionetti said the state released property tax relief figures May 1 for those who have applied for homesteads at the county level.

He called the information “good news” for the district.

“We were told that we would be able to pass along homestead rebates to the tune of $4.3 million to the qualifying homesteads,” Lionetti said. 

According to Lionetti, the district will receive $3.2 million from the state from gambling proceeds, and $1.1 million from Sterling Act reimbursements—which he described as tax credits the school district gets from people living in Abington and Rockledge who work in Philadelphia but do not pay earned income tax to Abington School District.

For more information on Sterling Act credits, click here.

Both the Sterling Act credit and gambling reimbursement figures were lower than last year.  

What’s this mean?

“In a nutshell, what this is means is that everyone who has applied for a homestead in Abington and Rockledge will pay the same amount of money in school taxes that they paid a year ago, plus $45,” Abington Superintendent Amy Sichel said.

Abington School Board member Barry Stupine said the reduction in the Sterling Act credit could be because there are fewer Abington residents working in Philadelphia—or they could be making less money.

“We’re delighted with this, as some school districts did not do as well with their tax credits. We were hoping it would come in at $45 more … but this is still wonderful,” Sichel said.

The Abington School Board passed its proposed final budget of about $127.75 million April 26. That figure is down about $2.41 million, or about 1.9 percent, compared to the 2010-2011 actual budget.

The millage rate will remain at 27.80, meaning a homeowner with a house assessed at $150,000 will pay $4,170 annually (plus the aforementioned $45).

The school board also passed a resolution in April authorizing the administration to advertise the district’s intention to adopt the final budget at the June 28 meeting; the proposed final budget will be up for public inspection for 30 days.

Sichel lauded the board for keeping the millage rate static without changing programs or furloughing staff.

In fact, Sichel said “100 percent” of the school district employees have agreed to a wage freeze for the 2011-12 school year.

Last night, the Abington Transportation Association, which includes bus drivers and bus monitors, voted for a wage freeze; the board adopted the motion.

Sichel also said that she received a phone call from the president of the support personnel association prior to the meeting. The association, which comprises administration assistants, paraprofessionals and secretaries, also voted for a wage freeze. 

And last month, the Abington Education Association/PSEA, members of the Abington Supervisors and Administrators Association, and the Abington School Service Personnel Association/AFSCME facility and maintenance staff ratified extensions of their existing agreements—which included a salary freeze. The board OK’d the extension at the April 26 meeting.