Council Rock Approves Final Budget; Taxes To Increase Two Percent

NEWTOWN, PA — The Council Rock School Board voted unanimously Thursday night to approve a final budget for 2023-24 that will boost the property tax rate in the district by two percent, which is under the Act 1 Index rate of 4.1 percent.

The $267.9 million budget would keep the current educational program in place and will fund a $2.4 million shortfall between revenues and expenditures with $268,000 from the district’s educational initiatives fund balance and $2.4 million from its undesignated fund balance.

The budget also creates for the first time a rebate program for residents living on fixed incomes. That idea was put forth by board member Joseph Hidalgo and developed into a program by the administration.

The one-year program is based on the Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Rebate program. The rebates would be available for taxpayers over the age of 65 with an income of $35,000 or less.

The district is planning a multi-pronged campaign to make the public aware of the new rebate program. The campaign will include visits to senior centers in the district.

The budget also adds a few positions back to the budget that had been previously removed, including two security guards, several gifted teacher positions and two English Language Development positions.

"We are not cutting any staff with this budget," said Superintendent Dr. Andrew Sanko. "We are realizing some changes in players through attrition, but the actual number of staff is going to be pretty similar to what you see now. I can tell you in this budget we will see additional security guards. We will realize additional EL teachers. They are in this budget primarily through attrition."

The board voted 7-1 to approve the final spending plan with board member and finance committee chair Yota Palli casting the lone vote against the budget. Not in attendance at the meeting was board member Joseph Hidalgo.

"The board had the best interest of the community in mind holding the tax increase down to two percent," said board member Stephen Nowmos.

"Across the board in Bucks County, we're seeing rates going up two, three, four percent in other school districts," he said. "The administration did a nice job of helping us get to this two percent in times where inflation is high and expenses are more than anticipated. Being able to rein that in, the administration did a nice job."

Palli cast the lone vote against the budget, saying she would not vote to approve a final budget with a two percent tax increase, which she called “fiscally irresponsible.

"With respect to the administration, I would have preferred a 2.5 percent increase which would still give us a deficit for next year, but there would be no projected deficit for the next five years,” she argued.

“I believe a 2.5 percent increase is needed and it is well below the Act 1 Index of 4.1 percent, which is on par with inflation,” said Palli. “As a school board director my priority is to keep the district strong and fiscally responsible. This budget includes a rebate to our fixed-income residents and a 2.5 or a 3 percent increase will support the good standing of Council Rock.”