The proposed preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 school year in Spring-Ford presented a variety of problems, the most significant being a $10.4 million deficit. School administrators are hesitant to discuss a tax increase since the budget is still in the planning stages. Expenses are increasing as revenues continue to fall. The district will face even more lost revenue if the 30 companies who have applied to Montgomery County for property reassessment are successful. The appeals by such companies as GlaxoSmithKline, Quest Diagnostics and the Spring-Ford Country Club could cost the school district close to $4 million. The school board will vote on a proposed preliminary budget at the Feb. 14 meeting, with final budget adoption required by the end of June.
Upper Dublin School District opens budget discussions
Upper Dublin administrators presented the school board with a proposed preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 school year. The preliminary plan includes a proposed tax hike of 5.85 percent [Read more...]
Huge deficits seen for Radnor schools
Radnor Township School District must face “brutal facts,” including what some officials say is a “structural problem” with how the district is funded and how it spends money according to Superintendent of Schools Linda Grobman. For example, by the year 2015-16 the school district could spend almost the same amount on benefits as it will on salaries, according to a five-year budget outlook. Despite “significant” staff and teacher layoffs and furloughs [Read more...]
Methacton School District reduces expected tax increase to 5.53 percent
The Methacton School Board was able to reduce the expected tax increase for 2010-11 from 6.4 percent to 5.53 by refinancing part of the Skyview Upper Elementary School construction debt. The board also decided to continue the Transitional-First Grade program after parents expressed concern over the loss of the program. If adopted, the school property tax millage will be 25.58, which amounts to an increase of $235.08 in the tax bill of the average home assessed at $176,235 in the district. The expected homestead/farmstead credit is $234.20 for those enrolled. The final budget is set for adoption at the June 22 meeting. The Methacton School District has also announced a public budget forum on June 4 at 11:00 a.m. to allow the community to discuss the proposed budget with the superintendent. Please visit the Methacton School District website for more information.
West Chester schools approve tax increase
The West Chester Area School Board on Monday night approved a 2010-2011 budget that includes a 2.83 percent property tax increase. The average increase for the district’s Chester County residents will be $98, while the average increase for its Delaware County residents will be $28, according to district officials. The average tax bill in the district’s Chester County portion, where the average assessed home value is $189,950, will be $3,343; the average tax bill in the district’s Delaware County portion, where the average assessed home value is $289,443, will be $3,980. The district finance committee two weeks ago recommended a budget that included a 3.3 percent tax increase. Board member Maria Armandi Pimley on Monday proposed an amendment to that recommendation that brought the increase to 2.83 percent, and five of the eight board members present voted to accept her amendment.
Upper Dublin School District posts preliminary budget
The preliminary 2010-2011 budget for Upper Dublin School District includes a tax increase of 12.68 percent. The school district is required to publish intent to raise taxes above the Act 1 index of 2.9 percent. Click here for the Upper Dublin School District comprehensive budget timeline.
Warrington Township continues debate over pharmaceutical distribution center
Supervisors recently held a public meeting to review the plans of Teva Pharmaceuticals to build a major distribution center in Warrington Township on 156 acres near Eureka Quarry. Close to 200 residents were in attendance with their own message to Teva, build it somewhere else. Residents are concerned over the amount of traffic would be generated. Teva has promised to address the traffic issues and noted that the building of the facility would generate $2.4 million in one-time building fees and a projected annual property tax of $107,571 would make them the largest township taxpayer. Projected tax revenue for Central Bucks School District is just over $1 million, with an additional $205,000 for Bucks County. Watch the Warrington Township website for meeting dates and agendas.
Warminster Township addresses negative general fund balance
At a recent meeting, Warminster Township supervisors addressed a $22,000 negative general fund balance. Often, municipalities struggle financially at the start of the year before tax revenue arrives in March. The solution to the problem is a tax anticipation loan, common practice for municipalities. Warminster borrowed $500,000 in a tax anticipation loan this year. Although the budget balance for the coming year is strong, the cash balance was alarming to supervisors. With tax revenues down, Warminster saw a 60 percent decrease in real estate transfer taxes from 2008 to 2009 when the revenue fell from $1.1 million to $413,000, township administration is working hard to tighten actual expenditures.
Newtown Township eyes tax increase to pay for municipal complex
Newtown Township supervisors got their first look at the 2010 preliminary budget, which included a 46 percent property tax hike. The 2.5 mill increase [Read more...]
Upper Providence taxes to jump 48 percent
After nine years with only one tax hike of about 2 percent, the Upper Providence Township is proposing a 48 percent increase. The preliminary budget approved by council shows a total tax rate of 4.629 mills, 1.501 mills more than last year. For an assessment of $250,000, taxes rise from $782 to $1,157. Township Manager Edward Cashman presented [Read more...]