School Board Moves Forward with Budget

The West Chester School Board Property and Finance Committee approved the final budget resolution for the 2012-13 school year Monday night sending it before the full board next week for a final vote.

The $202 million budget will include a 1.7 percent tax increase with a millage rate of 18.67.

“That number of $202 million represents a $10 million reduction compared to where the budget projection had us at this time last year,” said committee chairman Sean Carpenter.  “However, no amount of reform can solve these pension issues.”

Despite this year’s balanced budget and the tax increase, the district still faces a dire financial future with a projected potential deficit of $3.2 million next year that could balloon to $12 million by 2015-16.

The state mandates that the district contribute a certain amount of money to the pension plan, and every year the amount required increases while state decreases financial support to the district leading to exploding costs.

“Pension decisions are made in Harrisburg,” said committee member Ed Coyle.  “We can’t control that number.  We need our lawmakers to bite the bullet and make some real reforms.  Meanwhile we try to hold the line the best we can.”

One resident spoke out at the meeting against the proposed budget arguing that it wasn’t a long-term solution.

“We can’t keep kicking the can down the road,” the man said.  “Property taxes are not a long-term solution.  The real issues are pensions and staffing.”