Still More Work for Perkiomen Valley School District's General Fund Budget

With the Perkiomen Valley School Board’s preliminary budget approval slated for next month, Business Administrator Jim Weaver noted the numbers still need some paring down.

According to Monday night’s budget presentation, the latest figures show a net shortfall of nearly $3 million and a potential 5.13 percent tax increase—a 1.44 mills increase. The net shortfall is calculated with the Finance Committee recommendation to use $1.25 million from the fund balance to reduce the $4.2 million gross shortfall. The Act I index sets a 1.6 percent tax increase, or .45 of a mill, according to the presentation; anything that exceeds that limit is subject to a referendum.

The budget has been calculated with the knowledge that the stimulus funds are no longer available. With a teachers contract agreement and Gov. Tom Corbett’s budget proposal now public, a few more puzzle pieces are in place. The presentation data showed the biggest budget expenses were salary (49 percent) and benefits (17 percent). Several cuts are usually made in the “Other” segment of the budget. Making up 3 percent of the general fund budget, it includes classroom supplies (textbooks, pencils and paper), building operations supplies (soap, towels, etc.), business supplies (forms, tax bills, paper and postage), professional development (workshops, seminars and conferences for district) and district travel reimbursement, according to the presentation.

As the district continues the path to final budget approval, the board and administration are seeking public input. Perkiomen Valley residents are invited to attend a town hall meeting in the high school’s cafeteria Tuesday, April 26, at 7 p.m. The event will kick off with a brief budget presentation, and the attendees will subsequently break into smaller groups, with one board member or administrator serving as a leader. Each group will review budget items and will rank them according to importance. The levels are the following: low hanging fruit; shared pain; gut wrenchers; no way, no how. The leaders will try to steer the conversation to name areas that can be cut and avoid lists of “do not touch” items.
Board member Bonnie Neiman said it was important to note said, “While we’re soliciting input, we’re (the board) the ones making the decisions.”

Interested residents should RSVP here.

The next presentation—and a board vote for preliminary budget approval—is slated for May 9. Final budget approval will be in June.

In other budget news, the board approved the .