Western Center JOC Passes 2012-2013 Budget

The Joint Operating Committee voted to approve the 2012-2013 budget, but not without some controversy.

Spring-Ford Area School District's three representatives, Joseph Ciresi, Dawn Heine and Edward Dressler, all voted "no" on the operating budget, while the rest of the committee (minus two absent members) voted "yes".

The budget will now go back to the three sending districts' boards for discussion and vote.

The sticking point for Spring-Ford's representatives is the lack of a capital projects reserve fund in the budget.

A reserve fund would pay for any capital projects (renovations, repairs, etc.) that might come up. Without a reserve fund, the three sending districts would have to find the money in their respective funds to do any projects.

The Articles of Agreement that govern the Western Center state that any excess funds should be returned to the three districts, so it is also impossible for the school to hold surplus funds.

Pottsgrove School District representative Philip Keogh said that it was very clear at his school board's meetings that they would not support a reserve fund.

Committee president William Scott said that while there was no vote on the reserve fund last month, the "consensus of the board was that it would be a violation of the Articles of Agreement" to have a reserve fund.

"There nothing in this building that needs to be done," Scott said.

Ciresi agreed that the building is fine but said he thought the committee should be prepared for future capital projects.

"While it's all good now, it was a four-year fight to fund the renovation," Ciresi said. "I don't want to see that happen in the future."

Later on, during open comments for committee members, Scott asked the Spring-Ford representatives to "ask [their] board to support this budget, and we'll move forward with the capital reserve fund."

"I think it's important to get this budget passed," Scott said.