School Board to Discuss Budget Thursday

The Council Rock School Board will meet Thursday, when a discussion of the impacts of state education funding reductions will take place.

Earlier this month, Governor Tom Corbett unveiled his $27.3 billion spending plan, which reduces state funding for Council Rock by more than $3.5 million. The district has also experienced a decline in real estate revenue due to assessment appeals, Superintendent Mark Klein said.

Combining these revenue declines with fixed expenditure increases in salary, benefits, and other contractual obligations, the district is facing a budget deficit in excess of $10 million for fiscal year 2011-2012, officials said.

While there will be a detailed discussion Thursday, the district has also scheduled a public forum to give the community an opportunity to learn about the 2011-2012 budget. The forum is scheduled for Wednesday, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the Chancellor Center. 

The public forum next month will be an opportunity for the community to see the proposed budget and learn about the changes sought to address the deficit, district officials said.

Last month, the Council Rock School Board voted keep next year’s budget within Act 1 requirements. Under Act 1, the district must limit the budget increase to 1.4 percent of the previous year unless an exception is sought.

That means the final budget, which will be approved in June, has to be somewhere between $196 million and $198 million. A $196 million budget represents no increase. The maximum increase of 1.4 percent would put the budget at about $198 million.

Thursday’s meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Chancellor Center. To view the full agenda, click here.