Connellsville school board approves preliminary budget
John F. Brothers | 蘑菇视频
During the public comment portion of Wednesday蘑菇视频 Connellsville Area School Board meeting, Dunbar Township tax collector, Marigrace Butela reminds board member that procedures they are using for executive session before the regular meeting could be a violation of the state蘑菇视频 Sunshine Law.
John F. Brothers | 蘑菇视频
Joe Helms, the tax collector for South Connellsville Borough questions Connellsville school board members about the staying within state mandated limits when considering tax increases during the school board meeting Wednesday at Connellsville Area High School.
John F. Brothers | 蘑菇视频
Robert Geletko (left), business manager for the Connellsville Area School District, presents a proposed budget to school board members for the 2017-18 school year. Geletko also indicated the proposed budget presently does not include any tax increases but shows a $3 million shortfall.
CONNELLSVILLE 鈥� The school board on Wednesday approved a preliminary budget with a shortfall of more than $3 million.
Board members voted unanimously in favor of the preliminary 2017-18 budget that projects $73.3 million in revenue and $76.4 million in expenses. The current budget is $71.5 million.
The budget resolution says the district蘑菇视频 Act 1 index calculated by the state Department of Education is 3.7 percent, and the district will not raise the property tax rate beyond the index.
A 3.7 percent increase would raise the real estate tax millage from the current 14.24 mills to 14.76 mills.
The resolution also states that the budget proposal is based on the district receiving state approval to use one or more Act 1 real estate tax referendum exceptions and the district will seek approval for the referendum exceptions.
Using a slide presentation, Robert Geletko, assistant to the superintendent for finance and operations, said the district is facing a 10 percent increase in employee healthcare costs, a 2 percent increase in pension obligations and a 3 percent increase in purchased services.
Supply and equipment purchasing has been frozen, Geletko said.
He said 61 percent of the district蘑菇视频 expenditures is for personnel and 11 percent, or $7.3 million, is for debt service.
Most, or 66 percent, of the district蘑菇视频 revenue comes from state subsidies, and 5 percent comes from the federal government, Geletko said.
The district is going to receive a $400,000 increase in basic and special education subsidies, but it is also going to receive $400,000 less in transportation funding, he said.
Before the board voted, South Connellsville Tax Collector Joe Helms said he was concerned about a potential tax increase. He said he calculated the district蘑菇视频 index to be 3.375 percent.
Dunbar Township Tax Collector Marigrace Butela asked the board if it met before the regular meeting started and urged the board to conduct agenda meetings prior to the regular meetings.
鈥淵ou need to have an agenda meeting and then a regular meeting,鈥� Butela said.
Solicitor Gary Matta said the board met in executive session before the regular meeting started, and those sessions will be announced at the start of the regular meeting in the future.