Taxes To Spike In Proposed Bensalem School Budget

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —With three budget sessions in the books, the Bensalem Township School Board is expected to vote on the final preliminary 2023-2024 school budget Tuesday that would include a 2.5 percent tax increase.

The 2023-2024 school budget —according to a presentation during the third budget session on May 9 —stands at $173,284,880, a 2.53 percent increase of nearly $4.3 million from the 2022-2023 school budget.

The school board is expected to vote on the final preliminary budget at its meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday followed by a public question and answers session.

The adoption of the final budget is expected at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27.

During its third budget session, school board members debated the potential tax increase based on scenarios presented by Board Treasurer John Steffy.

With no tax increase, the budget has a $3.1 million shortfall in total expenditures, Steffy said.

He then outlined two tax scenarios in which the average taxpayer would pay $183.91 more with a 4.8 percent increase and $91.95 more with a 2.4 percent.

The 2.5 percent tax hike might raise the average taxpayer's bill by $100, school officials said.

"It's advisable to do gradual increases," Steffy said.

School officials said that the approval of the proposed final budget does not necessarily lock the school district into a tax increase. The school district might be able to make some financial adjustments prior to final budget approval adoption.

School board members weighed the tax hike during the end of the third budget session with some arguing not to go the full 4.8 percent.

"Now we're kind of behind the eight ball. I think you have to raise it. But not 4.8 percent," School Board Director Sheldon Per said.

School Board Vice President Kim Rivera was adamant that she would not accept a 4.8 percent tax increase.

School Board President Eric Price said the 2.5 percent increase works for him because it balances out the rise in budget expenditures.

"I think 2.5 percent is more than fair for all things considered," Price said. "To make it a wash is where I'm at. I don't want anything higher than that."