The board voted 8 to 1 to approve the 2011-2012 budget. The total expenditures will reach $28,034,974.00. The Real Estate Tax will be 24.15 mills or $2415.00 per $100,000 of assessed value. Other taxes will be a Per Capita Tax of $5.00, a Residence Tax of $5.00 , a 1% Earned Income Tax, and a 1% Realty Transfer Tax.
The school board struggled to balance this year's budget. The administration indicates the next two years will be more difficult.
Board President Robert A. Heckman pointed the finger at Harrisburg. However, the finger should be pointed at the district. Local decisions regarding, salaries, benefits, and building construction rest in the hands of the board. The state does not mandate generous pay and benefits. Nor do they require Taj Mahal buildings or spending $1,000,000.00 to "repair a track" or $500,000.00 in legal fees defending the non payment to a contractor.
In 2012, the swaption gamble on school debt will mature. It could mean, the debt service will increase by over $100,000.00. How many programs and teachers will be laid off to cover this increase because the district speculated with finances?
Most school boards have shown they are unwilling to harness wish list spending. The state should toughen Act 1 by eliminating spending exemptions and requiring referendum votes on budgets exceeding the rate of inflation.
Wasteful spending is the problem not higher taxes
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious from all the comments that no one cares. Spend that money and pile on those taxes, school board. Take advantage of the apathy that has spread throughout the Oley Valley. Continue to blame Harrisburg, Mr Heckman, that shows REAL leadership.
ReplyDeleteThere is still fat in school budgets.
ReplyDeletePublic employees live high on the hog at the expense of those who pay the bill.
ReplyDeleteZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.......
ReplyDeleteI hear Harrisburg is going to make it a lot more difficult for school districts to raise taxes.
ReplyDeleteFinally........
Let your fingers do the walking - remember that?
ReplyDeleteLet the computers do the teaching - maybe we should be paying the computers and not the teachers!!!!!!!!
Glad to see those laptops are going over big at OVHS. The administration acts like they were free because they are leased instead of bought. They have had them for a month. Let's see how they are working out in June.
ReplyDeleteThe administration gave a presentation to the board extolling the laptops.
ReplyDeleteWhat was missing was how many courses used the computers and how they were integrated into the curricula.
Isn't everyone happy now that the school board is not going to charge an activity fee next year? The taxpayers have deep pockets and will be glad to pick up the tab. With real estate values going down and property taxes going up how long are people going to be able to make it?
ReplyDeleteI think the board members who voted for the motion 7 to 1, to not charge an activity fee are raising false hopes.
ReplyDeleteThe 2012-2013 budget will be even more difficult to prepare than last year.
The economy is weak at best and this affects federal, state, and local revenues.
Everything should be on the table during budget process, even student activity fees.
By trying to take activity fees out of consideration, the district puts itself into a corner.
They may face a situation similar to last year when they had to choose between having a librarian or pay for something that was non-educational.
Short term political decisions have long term consequences.
I would be willing to pay a fee to keep an activity.
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