Taxes Going Up $106 For The Average Council Rock Homeowner

The Council Rock School Board approved a $227 million budget for the 2016-2017 school year during a meeting Thursday. The budget was approved by a 5-4 vote.

The budget includes a tax increase of $106 for the average homeowner, according to information provided by the school district.

Despite the impending tax increase, the district has been working over the past several months to trim back spending. Cuts include the elimination of 38 staff positions, including classroom teachers, special education teachers, assistants, and a librarian.

Reductions will include teachers across elementary, middle, and high school levels, officials said. Six clerical aide positions are also to be eliminated. 

However, the district administration has pledged to work with employee unions CREA and CRESPA to place as many impacted staff members as possible into other vacancies within the district.

Superintendent Robert Fraser said despite the reductions, class sizes are not being increased.

"Currently our enrollment appears to be down," he said last month, noting there was still time for new students to enroll. "We constantly monitor our attendance and transiency patterns not only during the school year, but throughout the summer as well."

Other cuts to the budget include: $400,000 in technology equipment purchases; a $200,000 reduction in special education contracted services; a reduction in building allocations for all level schools and others.