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Penn
Manor School District Board of Directors Set to Approve $49,592,937
Budget for 2003-2004
June 12, 2003
The proposed Penn Manor School District
budget for 2003-2004 is scheduled for approval at tonight’s Board of Directors meeting.
The meeting starts at 7:00 PM in the board room at Manor Middle School,
2950 Charlestown Road in Manor Township. The $49,592,937 spending plan
would maintain the District’s real estate property tax millage
rate at 14.67 mills.
This will mark the second time in three years that the Board has not
raised the real estate tax. In the past three years, the District’s
total real estate tax increases have been far below other school districts
in Lancaster County. Also, Penn Manor School District eliminated its
per capita and occupation taxes in July, 2000. This move saved the average
household $50 per year. Overall, the total cumulative tax increase for
the average Penn Manor School District residential household has been
a total of $47 in the last 4 years. Willis Herr, School Board President,
said “Penn Manor is very pleased to hold the line on taxes this
year. We recognize our present economy has been tight and we are pleased
to be able to help the community members, especially those on fixed incomes”.
Don Stewart, Penn Manor School District Superintendent, stated “it
is a solid budget, which provides ample support for the district’s
instructional program.”
The District was able to hold the line on taxes due, in part, to its
recent real estate tax assessment settlement with Safe Harbor and Holtwood.
Penn Manor was successful in its appeal to Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth
Court. As a result of the settlement, the District will receive approximately
$1.25 million more in tax revenue over a seven-year period.
The proposed budget includes revenues totaling $47,132,469 and expenses
of $49,592,937. Excluding a one-time transfer to the capital reserve
fund, the budget shortfall is $1,571,190. This shortfall will be funded
by utilizing the District’s fund balance, or rainy day fund.
Major highlights of the budget include the following:
- Health care expenses increasing by $816,216 or 27%
- Funding
for 11 new positions
- Investment earnings declining by $154,027 due to
low interest rate environment
- 3% increase ($257,294) in the state basic
instructional subsidy
- 2.2% increase ($49,086) in the state special education
subsidy
- 314% increase ($834,980) in retirement expense
There have been many residents asking questions about Governor Rendell’s
proposed property tax reduction for homeowners. The Governor’s
proposed budget and corresponding property tax reduction plan has yet
to be approved the legislature. While the state budget has not been
passed, Penn Manor School District is including projected state subsidy
increases in its proposed budget plan. The Penn Manor School District
will keep local resident informed of all developments in Harrisburg
concerning possible property tax changes.
The District has prepared extensive detailed information on its award-winning
budget website. The budget website may be accessed here.
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