State Budget Could Mean 1.9 Percent Tax Hike For Pottstown

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett last night bragged of "signing the first on-time budget in eight years."

But at what cost, many educators across the state are asking today.

Pottstown School District will lose $525 of funding per student -- which equals $13,125 per classroom -- said John J. Armato, the district's director of community relations, in an e-mail.

"We are one of the poorest districts in the state with one of the highest tax rates," he said.

The district's 2011-12 budget shows a 6.3 percent, or $3,445,174, decrease in spending over last year's fiscal plan, yet a tax hike will be needed, he said.

"We have made cuts in staff," he said of a reduction to the district's professional, administration and support employees. "We are aggressive in looking for grants."

This year, 11.6 percent of the district's budget will be funded by $5,962,197 in grants, he said.

"In spite of all of our efforts, in order to fund the 2011-12 budget of $51,108,049 we will have to increase taxes by 1.9 percent," Armato said.

"We can not cut our way to becoming a high performing school district," he said. "We will continue to improve operations and develop partnerships but the state must look to fair and equitable funding of education so our future leaders can have the same opportunities regardless of their zip code."