Spring-Ford proposes 4.91% tax increase

The Spring-Ford Area School District tonight unveiled a proposed $131 million budget for the 2011-12 school year that includes a projected 4.91% increase in the school tax paid by property owners in the district.

The increase was necessitated by a $10.4 million gap between the district's revised revenue and expense figures as determined by the district's finance committee during the budgetary review process, according to district business manager Tim Anspach.

"Clearly, when we look at our expenses, there are things over which we have very little control," said Dr. Marsha Hurda, superintendent of the Spring-Ford district.

"At the same time, our revenues continue to decrease. I don't think we can underestimate the impact that real estate reassessments have. When you look at the kind of money that we're talking about from [the reassessments at] two or three major companies in this area, it's a huge, huge impact that it has on the budget," Hurda said. 

Citing one example of increased expenses faced by the district, Anspach said the business office was "shocked" by a 21.24% increase in health care expenses for district employees.

The slideshow from Tuesday evening's presentation will be made available on the business page of the district's web site later today.

The district also introduced Stephen Reynolds to be its new Director of Technology, succeeding Gary Spohn, who has retired.

An expanded story on the proposed school budget will be available later today.