CATAWISSA R.R. - Southern Columbia Area School District may seek a tax increase of nearly nine mills in Northumberland and Columbia counties to help erase a $1.2 million budget deficit this year.
At its meeting Monday night, the school board presented an $18.240,632 preliminary budget for fiscal year 2012-2013, $1.7 million higher than last year's budget.
To help offset the deficit, the spending plan calls for an increase in taxes from 30.994 to 39.35 mills in Columbia County, and from 47.87 to 57.23 mills in Northumberland County, in addition to a 2.2 percent tax index raise already set because of Act 1.
Board President Michael Yeager said that the district will be evaluating every program, activity and service for possible reductions in an effort to balance the budget while maintaining the rigor, diversity and standards of the academic programs.
"Our taxes are the lowest of the Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech area, and we have tried to be frugal in our spending," superintendent Charles Reh said in his report. "It's a difficult time because our contribution to the Public Schools Employees' Retirement SYstem (PSERS) retirement fund is going up 30 percent, health care costs are going up 20 percent and salaries are rising as well."
Rick Steele, chairman of the board's activities committee, said that analysis is already underway on all extracurricular and athletic programs.
"All options are on the table," Steele said. "There could be the elimination of some activities and athletic program and we are analyzing the pay-to-participate legalities as well. It will be a process."
Yeager made a statement on behalf of the board at the start of the meeting.
"This statement is to inform the public of this deficit and to make them aware of the board and administration's desire to do all they can to maintain programs and activities," Yeager said. "With that being said, due to the projected deficit, dramatic and significant changes will be required to balance the budget."
'I will speak out'
Florey Guarno, a resident of Locust Township and a critic of the school board, said the deficit could have been less if Southern Columbia had not undertaken the current $17 million building project.
"If the referendum exemptions are accepted by the Department of Education, that knocks the deficit down to $900,000, which is the same amount of principal and fees we have to pay this year for the building project," Guarno said.
Through renovations and additions, Southern Columbia Area will put middle school-age students under one roof, provide space for special education students and add a new all-weather track to the stadium and new heating and air conditioning units for the high school and middle school.
"The building project is a good thing, but we will never convince you otherwise, Florey," Yeager said. "When the finance committee met last Wednesday, you said you wanted to be heard, and you have responded over and over with the same argument and comments."
"Well, every year when you tell me how much my taxes are going up, I will speak out," Guarno responded.
Science teacher Connie Lupold asked the board members to take into consideration the continuation of advanced college-level courses at Southern Columbia.
"The students that are achieving, they know what classes they need to take to continue their education." Lupold said. "It gets frustrating for them when they pick the classes they need, but then they are dropped because the funding isn't there, or because of lack of interest."
The preliminary budget is set to be passed at the board's next meeting Monday evening.
Other business
Ken Wagner, of the auditing firm of Schaeffer, Eichner and Wagner, gave a presentation on the Signal Audit Report and Management Letter for the fiscal year ended June 30. No irregularities were found and the board accepted the report 8-0.
The board also accepted the resignation of new board member Ronald Brobst, who resigned due to work constraints. Letters are being accepted for candidates from Catawissa and Catawissa Township to serve his remaining two-year term.
The district is also accepting nominations for the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award until March 1. A nominee should be someone who has gone on to achieve success in their field of endeavor, and/or has a positive influence on the students and community.
Nominations should be sent to board secretary Tresa Britch, 800 Southern Drive, Catawissa 17820. Previous nominations remain on file and do not need to be renominated.