No Tax Increase Factored into Proposed School Budget

No tax increase is factored into the proposed 2011-12 budget for Pine-Richland schools, but nearly $2 million in cuts are in there.

That was the upshot of Wednesday night's meeting of the school board's finance committee as it reviewed the proposed $63 million budget.

It directed Pine-Richland Schools Superintendent Dr. Mary Bucci to present such a budget to the public at the school board's April 25 meeting.

Bucci and administrators have struggled for months with the budget because the anticipated revenue of $63.8 million falls short of the $65.5 million in expenses.

The $63.8 million figure includes adding in $850,000 from the fund balance to cover one-time capital improvements like a new phone system for Pine-Richland Middle School.

Although the school board is permitted by the state to raise the tax rate as much as 5.2 percent, the majority of Pine-Richland school directors said they did not favor a tax increase.

School board Treasurer Dennis Sundo and Director Kevin Nigh disagreed, saying the proposed cuts are too deep.

"There is no way in hell I would vote for this budget," said Sundo. "The cuts as presented are not acceptable to me."

"I don't use the words 'tax increase' lightly," said Nigh. "I think the cuts are too deep. I am not going to vote for the budget as I see it today."

Nigh said he felt the cuts would affect the district's quality of education and the students would suffer.

The bulk of those cuts affect personnel, and that impact was discussed in an hourlong executive session before the finance committee meeting's open session. No details on personnel were announced.

"We've spent a lot of time and minds on this budget," Bucci said.

Even with cuts, she maintained the district would have a well-rounded program with a minimal impact on students.

Potential cuts include: 

• cutting $38,500 used to partially subsidize club sports -- ice hockey ($16,000), high school and middle school boys lacrosse ($12,000), gymnastics ($3,000), crew ($6,000) and indoor track ($1,500).
• cutting $280,000 in the athletics and student activities portion of the budget.

• cutting the taping and airing on PRTV of Pine-Richland School Board meetings to save about $10,000. The cost is for overtime and equipment maintenance/repair.
• reducing staff development costs $100,000 by focusing more on using in-house resources;
• cutting nearly $11,000 for the forensics club. The district still will pay for a sponsor, but will not pay the fees for competitions and transportation.

Bucci announced that she and Assistant Superintendent David Foley voluntarily agreed to no pay increase.

After nearly two hours of discussion about the budget, Sundo said the public needs to see "what the pain will be."

The budget will be presented for public review starting April 25 at the next school board meeting. On May 9 the board will vote on a proposed final budget. The final budget will be adopted June 13, and the millage rate for taxes will be set.