$4.6M Shortfall in Approved Preliminary Colonial School Budget

The Colonial School Board unanimously approved a preliminary budget on Feb. 14 with a $7.6 million increase over last year's budget, leaving a $4.6 million shortfall to cut down before the final budget is approved in June.

The budget is just over $103 million, a 8.06 percent increase over this year’s budget. The largest budgetary increase is instruction, which increased $5.2 million, and support services, which increased just under $1.5 million between the 12-13 approved budget and the 13-14 preliminary budget.

Based on Act 1 legislation passed in 2006, the school district is only permitted to increase the real estate tax rate by 1.7 percent without a referendum. However, districts are permitted to apply for various exceptions that allow them to increase taxes more than the Act 1 index.

Colonial School District Business Administrator Trevor Jackson said that the district hopes to be granted an exception regarding an increased retirement contribution, which would allow the board to increase the tax rate by 2.9 percent without referendum.

Last month, the district presented a plan on “proactive” fundraising sources, including advertising in school venues.

For more information on the budget process:

   Colonial SB to Fill $4.6 Million Deficit with 'Proactive' Fundraising