School Board Takes First Step in Budget Process

The Pine-Richland School Board took the first step in the budget process Monday when it approved a $65 million preliminary budget.

The vote was 7-1, with Director Scott Stedeford voting against the spending plan.

Finance and Operations Director Dana Siford explained that the vote did not set a millage rate. It simply allowed the board to comply with Act 1, a state law, she said. The board will not vote on a final budget and tax rate until June.

"You guys have a hard job," Dan Pasqualucci said as he addressed the board. But he said he was disturbed and angry "that we are even thinking about raising taxes."

"Stop the madness," said Pasqualucci, of Cloverdale Estates. "There has got to be room to cut. I strongly believe you should not raise taxes.

Superintendent Mary Bucci had warned the community that a tax increase is a possibility when she sent out a community message Friday.

"The preliminary budget shows a tax millage increase of 1.31 mills," Bucci's community message states. That would raise the current tax rate by 6 percent from 21.9084 mills to 23.2184.

Bucci outlined three options to address the budget shortfall:

• No tax increase. This would mean cuts in personnel, program and or services to balance the budget.
• Raise taxes to the index level -- an increase of .3724 mills -- to cover the cost of living increases in personnel, programs and/or services. Some reductions, however, may still be needed.
• Raise taxes to a rate higher than the index. This would allow the district to maintain most of its existing personnel, programs and or services. In addition, the district would reduce costs by improving efficiency, delaying improvements and not filling vacant positions. 

The board in June approved the current school year's $62.9 million budget, which included a 1.7 mill increase in the tax rate. This came after several years of no tax increases.