Wissahickon School Board Passes Proposed Final Budget With Some Contention

The Wissahickon School Board voted 5 to 2, with Patricia Latimer and Barbara Moyer dissenting, to pass the proposed final budget for the 2011-12 school year.

The budget shows revenue of $82,868,173 and expenditures of $87,178,363, but no tax increase to the residents. Instead, $3.8 million is being used from the fund balance to balance the budget.

Moyer said, “I can’t support this budget.”

Moyer voiced her concern over balancing the budget by using the district’s fund balance. She said that the 2011-12 budget’s expenditures are $4.5 million more than the district expects to spend this year.

“It’s unacceptable to spend more,” she said.

She concluded by saying, “I’m disappointed the board has not been more (receptive) to the community.”

Young Park, president of the board, said, “I have been one of the proponents of no tax increase … I will not support any tax increase on our residents.”

Moyer rebutted, saying, “I am not suggesting a tax increase; I’m suggesting a balanced budget.”

Dawn Roberts asked, “Where else would you like us to cut from the budget without affecting students? ... Where else can we come up with $4 million?” She added, “80 percent of our budget is the . … The next area (to cut) is transportation, and we cut (as much as we could).”

Park commented, “If you get rid of all the sports for our students, (you) only save $1 million.”

Burunda Prince-Jones said the board has taken the budget back to the administration numerous times to see where additional cuts could be made for an efficient budget and to maximize student achievement.

“The teachers contract (seems to) have committed a great deal of our reserve,” said resident Vic Meitner.

“Execute on sound business practices,” said resident and school board candidate Eugene Murphy. “Balance the budget … don’t push the problem forward. This problem will not go away on its own.”

School board members Marjorie Brown and Richard Stanton were absent from the meeting and the budget vote.

The budget will be available for public inspection at the . Changes can be made to the budget between now and June 30. The board hopes to pass this budget at the regularly scheduled June 13 meeting.