PLUMSTED: Schools need 2 more cents

by Vic Monaco, Managing Editor
   PLUMSTED — The school board has approved a 2009-10 budget of close to $25.7 million that would raise the average tax bill by about $78 via a rate hike of about 2 cents.
   If approved by voters April 21, the budget would lift the tax bill of a homeowner assessed at the township average of $383,500 from $3,681 to $3,759, according to Business Administrator Frank Gripp.
   The new rate would stand at 98 cents per $100 of assessed property value, up from about 96 cents, Mr. Gripp said.
   The financial blueprint includes funding for a new state-mandated transition program to provide services to special education students who age out of the K-12 curriculum, Mr. Gripp explained. That program will require one teacher and one classroom aide. The district also plans to hire two other aides for the district.
   Program additions also include reinstating middle school sports with the addition of a second coach and a second team and reinstating the primary and elementary school yearbook advisors, according to school board President Joanna Barlow.
   There are no cuts in programs or employment planned.
   ”We were very fortunate this year to be able to maintain current programs and staffing and roll that forward into next school year,” Mr. Gripp said Tuesday.
   Ms. Barlow said in a press release the district was “very fortunate” to receive a 5 percent increase in state aid.
   ”Because of wise budgeting and the additional state aid, this board was able to propose a minimal increase of only 2.25 percent,” she wrote.
   ”We understand that in these difficult economic times, any tax increase is burdensome. With this in mind, the board made a conscience decision to balance the needs of the district with those of the taxpayer. This increase will permit us to maintain all current programs and address some of the program, equipment and personnel concerns of the district.”
   Equipment additions, she said, include replacing a nine-passenger van because the current vehicle has more than 200,000 miles.
   The total budget, approved unanimously March 31, represents an increase of $856,047 over the current budget of $24.8 million. It includes $2.5 million in debt service.
   Voters will be asked to approve a tax levy of $9.15 million to support the budget.