Pennsbury School Board Set To Vote On $172.8M Budget Proposal

The Pennsbury school board focused on the proposed budget for the 2011-2012 school year during a meeting Thursday night.

The school board proposed a $172.8 million budget, which is $3 million less than the budget for this past year.

The No. 1 goal for the meeting was to balance the budget with a zero percent increase on the real estate tax. The second was to “maintain support for the most important educational needs with the limited funds available.” Both goals appeared to be reached in about an hour.

The voting for the final budget will take place on June 21.

Some of the budgeting cutbacks that were planned are to reduce an open secretary position at the high school from 12 months and eight hours a day, to 10 months and seven hours a day -- this position is not currently filled.

They plan to also reduce the salary budget for retirements. There are 27 people who are retiring this year.

Reductions in health care benefits budget, along with adjusting the payroll withholdings for reduced salaries and wages, were other areas the board sought to trim the budget.

The only planned programs being cut back is the ninth grade wrestling team. They are only suspending the program because, "There is no competition for ninth grade wrestling right now,” said Pennsbury Business Administrtor Isabel Miller, who proposed the budget.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. David Bowman discussed the increase and decrease of the student size for each elementary grade.

“I am very happy with it, but we are keeping a close eye on it," Bowman said.

The only grades that are being increased are kindergarten and the fourth grade. Every class grade has an average of fewer than 25 kids for each section.