Tentative School Budget Would Hike Average Tax Bill $89

The and the public will get a presentation Wednesday night on a preliminary 2012-2013 budget that would raise the average school tax bill by about $89.

Business director Jack Myers said Monday that the tentative spending plan would total $122.8 million.

That compares to a 2011-2012 budget approved in June of $118.75 million. But Myers said the revised current school year budget stands at $121.9 million largely because of increased special education costs and a deferred transfer to the district's capital reserve.

“So, the increase is really only about $900,000, which is about ¾ of 1 percent,” he said.

Myers said once again a big reason for the pending tax hike is the cost of employee pensions.

The millage rate would climb from 141.4 to about 145.5 under the tentative spending plan. That would mean an increase of $89.21 for a homeowner assessed at the township median of $22,000.

Since negotiations with teachers are ongoing after their contract expired June 30, Myers declined to comment on budgeting for teacher salaries. That five-year deal granted annual 3 percent pay hikes for about 450 members of the Bensalem Township Education Association.

As is the annual custom, the budget contains funding for five additional teachers, Myers said. That totals about $400,000. It also includes a $350,000 contingency account for unforeseen expenditures.

As for programs, he said the spending plan includes funding to maintain the district's full-day kindergarten pilot program, which was on the chopping block last year.

“But that is a programmatic decision that needs to be made (by the board)” he said.

The budget does not, at this point, include funding to expand the program, as had been planned a couple years ago. At present, there is one class at each of the district's six elementary schools.

Myers pointed out that there are many variables and decisions that need to be addressed before the budget comes up for final approval June 13.

“There are many items still pending such as the state budget, which doesn't usually get approved until February, after we adopt a preliminary budget; charter school enrollment and formula issues; and the enrollment impact of parochial school closings,” he said.

The district is in the process of reviewing four new charter school applications, with one of those hearings set to continue Wednesday night. Myers said township students who attend such schools as Conwell Egan High School, whose closing was announced last week, could choose to enroll in charter schools, which costs the district money.

“There could be a ripple effect,” he said.

The first public budget session will begin at 6:30 pm Wednesday at the Dorothy Call Administrative Center at 3000 Donallen Drive.

The school board intends to adopt a preliminary budget Jan. 25; hold another work session Feb. 22; adopt a proposed budget May 9; and hold a question-and-answer session May 23.