The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

June 16, 2009

UPDATE: Sharon school budget prep going to wire

By Courtney L. Anderson

SHARON — Sharon school directors called a special meeting to approve a final 2009-2010 budget on June 30 — the last day to do so under state law.

The extra time is needed to put together what amounts to two budgets to submit to the state: One with Gov. Ed Rendell’s proposed education funding levels and another that sets revenue according to proposed Senate Bill 850.

It’s a daunting task that includes putting together two 45-page documents to send to the state — while the state still hasn’t set its own budget so there may likely have to be a third school budget prepared — and an instruction packet that’s 36 pages long, Business Manager Tresa Templeton said.

The district is still also working to close a gap in the budget that was about $1.2 million two weeks ago. But that amount doesn’t include any increase in funding from the state.

If the governor’s proposal goes through, that will knock about $500,000 off Sharon’s deficit, Mrs. Templeton said. The proposed $28.3 million budget also provides 3 percent raises for teachers but the contract actually calls for 2 percent raises this year, so there should be a savings there, she said at a recent budget hearing.

“Nothing’s off the table” as far as balancing the budget, Mrs. Templeton said Monday.

Staffing levels have not yet been altered and the spending plan does not include a tax increase, but it could happen.

No one would speculate what a possible tax hike could be Monday, but Mrs. Templeton said the board has always tried to “impact the taxpayers as least as possible.”

In addition to the annual struggle to balance the budget and weighing tax increases or layoffs, schools have to deal with a state that’s in bad financial shape itself and a pool of money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that’s been thrown into the mix, Mrs. Templeton said.

The governor has proposed putting $1.1 billion in federal stimulus money toward increasing public schools’ basic education subsidies; the Senate bill wants to use the money to balance the state’s budget and cuts Rendell’s education initiatives, including Classrooms for the Future, college dual enrollment and elementary science programs.

Those cuts would be “significant” at Sharon schools, Curriculum Supervisor Michael Calla said.

The Senate bill would eliminate about $300,000 in grant funded programs, he said.

If SB 850 passes, “It’s going to be a nightmare,” Calla said.

Under it, there would be more complex reporting requirements for schools on how money is spent, too.

The school board Monday passed a resolution opposing the Senate bill regarding the use of stimulus funds.

Mrs. Templeton said that this year’s delay in knowing the state’s budget is the longest in a number of years. School officials across the state are confused and scrambling.

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