Parkland Gets Ready for Next Year's Budget

 laid out a timeline for its 2013-14 budget cycle Monday at the school board's monthly Personnel and Finance committee meeting.

The deadline to project the Act 1 index is Sept. 20, and the deadline to determine if the district stays or goes above the index is Oct. 5.

The Act 1 index is used to determine the maximum tax increases for each tax the school district levies on propery taxpayers.

The tentative budget will be available for taxpayer inspection or an adoption of a resolution not to raise taxes above the Act 1 limit is set for Jan. 31, 2013.

, the Parkland school board approved a $137.8 million that raises taxes 3.67 percent, froze teachers' salaries and cut 60 teacher and staff positions.

Elsewhere, Business Administration Director John Vignone said part of the $8.5 million in reserve fund revenue used to balance the 2011-12 budget is being recouped.

Vignone said real estate taxes are up because of fewer appeals, sales of existing homes in the district are generating money, and the district is spending less than initially planned.

The 2011-12 budget is currently being audited, he said.