4.1% Tax Hike Proposed In Pennsbury School Budget

FALLSINGTON, PA —Homeowners in the Pennsbury School District will see their school taxes rise an average of $177 under the 2023-2024 school budget.

Chief Financial Officer Chris Berdnik presented a 45-page budget summary at last Thursday's school board meeting, saying that the $242.8 million budget calls for a 4.1 percent tax hike.

The 2023-2024 spending plan — which was authorized to be advertised —will be considered for final approval at the school board's June 15 meeting.

Berdnik said the tax increase is tagged as a "downpayment" for either the renovation of Pennsbury High School West at a $166.4 million cost or the building of a brand new high school, which would cost $213.2 million and not be ready to open until 2029.

Designs would be scheduled to start in 2024-2025.

A tentative project timeline put together by Berdnik shows:

• May - November —Discussions, committee creation, community meetings, site surveys, and GeoTech and hazardous materials investigations.
• November - December —RFP for architect and school design
• January 2024 - June 2025 —Assemble design committee, school visits, community presentations, design and construction approvals
• Summer 2025 —Construction starts
• Winter 2029 —New building opens

School officials said both East and West high schools would remain open and functioning during construction.

Some year-over-year changes outlined in the summary include:

• Salaries and benefits $5.7 million, including a 4.4 percent medical and pharmacy rate increase.
• Principal and Interest $1.3 million, including Series 2023 bonds
• Technology replacement equipment $953k, reflecting a shift away from leasing. Those include Chromebooks.
• Tech school tuition $637k, including new bond issue debt service
• Medicaid ACCESS equipment $567k, including three lift buses
• Electricity $365k and diesel $373k
• Special education curriculum $220k
• 3.64 percent expenditure increase, including the transition from technology leases to technology purchases.
• Long-term strategy includes an annual contribution to the capital reserve fund to reduce reliance on bond issues.

Berdnik also presented the $37.94 million in bond proceeds needed for 2023 and the key projects that were financed, including:

• Charles Boehm Middle School $16.3 million
• Guaranteed energy savings projects $12.6 million
• Stadium phase II $5.8 million
• Makefield roof, except 2010 area $1.3 million
• Safety upgrades $250k
• Eleanor Roosevelt hard play area $100k
• Other/contingency/rounding $1.59 million