Tredyffrin/Eastown SD Looking To Raise Taxes To Close Projected $5.36 Million Deficit

At a special meeting on Jan. 3, the The Tredyffrin/Easttown Board of School Directors voted unanimously to display a preliminary budget proposal for 2017-2018 that includes a property tax increase aimed at closing a projected operating deficit.

According to the district, the board voted 9-0 to display the proposal, which contains a 3.44 percent property tax increase.

The proposed tax hike ideally will close the projected $5.36 million operating deficit, the district said.

Of the 3.44 percent increase, 2.5 percent comes from Act 1 and .935 percent from referendum exceptions, the district said.

The district raised property taxes for the 2016-2017 budget by 3.6 percent in attempts to close a then-projected $4.7 million deficit.

The development of the 2017-2018 budget will be discussed at the upcoming Tuesday, Jan. 17 Finance Committee meeting at 7 p.m. in the T/E School District Administration Offices and the board will consider adopting the 2017-2018 budget at its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 23.

The 2017-2018 proposed preliminary budget is available for inspection at the T/E School District Administration Offices, the district said.

"The T/E School Board and administration will continue to work towards balancing the budget and determining a final tax rate between now and final budget approval in June 2017," the district said. "The T/E School Board encourages public participation during the budget development process and endeavors to reflect the input of joint stakeholders. All School Board committee meetings are open to the public and have public comment periods."

Board meetings are held at Conestoga High School, 200 Irish Road, Berwyn.

Visit the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District website to see meeting dates and agendas.

Public comments may be submitted to district Business Manager Arthur J. McDonnell at mcdonnella@tesd.net or to the T/E School Board at schoolboard@tesd.net.

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