Council Rock May See $2.6M Boost in State Funding

Council Rock School District will see a $2.57 million increase in funding from Harrisburg if the House Republicans’ budget is approved next month.

According to Robert Reinhart, the district’s director of business administration, the new state budget presented by the House Appropriations Committee will be considered by the full House of Representatives the week of May 23.

Statewide, that budget has a $100 million increase in Basic Education Subsidies, a full restoration of state support of Social Security, and partial restoration of the Accountability Block Grant, Reinhart said.

What that means for Council Rock is a $926,165 increase in the district’s Basic Education Subsidy, $156,159 more in Accountability Block Grant funds, and a $1.49 million increase in Social Security reimbursements.

However, that additional funding can by no means be counted on at this juncture, district officials said.

“Of course we’re dealing with uncertainties and we live in uncertain times,” Reinhart said.

But the district is not in a position to wait much longer to pass its budget. It is required to pass a budget by June 30. Initially, a final budget approval was scheduled for June 9.

In April, the school board approved a $198.66 million preliminary budget for next year. That preliminary budget assumes a 1.4 percent property tax increase, or $58.52 for the average homeowner.

But many on the board are seeking a flat budget that has no tax increase whatsoever. And if the upped state subsidy does not pan out, the district needs to cut $1.9 million more from the budget to keep it flat.

“Of course, history indicates that the state doesn’t always pass a budget by June 30. We cannot wait past June 30,” Reinhart said.  In light of this new information out of Harrisburg, the board will likely consider its budget at the June 23 meeting.

Board member Patty Sexton, who wants a budget that has no tax increase, expressed concern with the district waiting on numbers from Harrisburg to finish crafting its budget.

“I don’t think the state is going to have a budget by June 30. I would be really surprised,” Sexton said. “I can’t rest on what happens in Harrisburg. We need to have public discussion on any cuts that we would consider making.”

Superintendent Mark Klein said he is optimistic about the proceedings in Harrisburg unfolding favorably for the district, and education funding in general.

“The only budget that’s on the floor right now is the House Appropriations (Committee) budget. Governor Corbett’s budget never made it to the floor,” Klein said. “Everything that’s coming out of the state right now indicates it’s a much better scenario than we were facing in March.”

When the budget process began, Council Rock was facing a $14.2 million budget shortfall as a result of reduced state aid, tax revenue declines, and increases in contractual obligations like salary and benefits.

Under the preliminary budget, $9.1 million has been cut from expenses and $1.1 million reduced through salary concessions. A $4 million infusion from the fund balance was applied to make up the rest.

At the recommendation of Klein, the board will extend an invitation to State Representatives Scott Petri and Steve Santarsiero, as well as State Senator Tommy Tomlinson to attend an upcoming meeting. Depending on their schedules, a public forum with the lawmakers could be a possibility, Klein noted.