May 6, 2010

The Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board is mulling over a
proposed $70 million budget for 2010-2011 that will raise property taxes. That
increase falls within the Act 1 index so a referendum is not needed.

The board will vote on the proposal on June 21 at Chadds
Ford Elementary School.

School Superintendent Sharon Parker and Business Manager
Robert Cochran presented the proposed budget during a public hearing Tuesday.

“The budget we are talking about tonight is not the final
budget,” Parker said.

School board members will review the proposal during a work
session on May 10 to consider modifying, then finalizing it before the June
approval meeting.

According to figures presented, the dollar amount of tax
increase would be $184.62 for Chester County residents and $38.71 for Chadds
Ford residents, based on a home with an assessed valued of $250,000.

Chester County residents in the district currently pay $5,800
in school taxes while Delaware County residents pay $5,200, based on that
$250,000 property assessment.

The millage rate in Chester County would be 24.26 mills, up
from 23.58, and 20.83 mills in Chadds Ford, in Delaware County, up from 20.68,
Cochran said.

For residents who qualify for the Homestead/Farmstead
Reduction, the dollar amount would be reduced by $226.

Increases reflect a hike of 2.88 percent in Chester County
and 0.73 percent in Delaware County. The differences are based and a state
formula based on market value changes in the two counties covered by the
district, according to Cochran.

The Act 1 index is 2.9 percent. To increase taxes beyond
that level—in an actual dollar amount—the district would need the increase
approved by referendum.

As proposed, the budget calls for $70,163,580 in
expenditures. The largest portion, almost 72 percent, is for personnel—salaries
and benefits— according to Cochran, The next largest piece is debt service at
11.62 percent of expenditures.

Cochran said the budget reflects increases in costs at more
than $800,000. He said salaries increased by more than $213,000 while benefit
costs rose $471,000. Also up were fuel and utility costs, and debt service on
the high school renovation.

What decreased in cost, Cochran said, were curriculum and
building allocation.

Parker said the district can’t rely on State Basic Education
Funding, and needs to generate more local revenue through rentals and student
fees.

She said the administration is looking at various ways to
reduce costs, including the possible elimination of midday kindergarten
transportation, eliminating discretionary travel and reducing overtime costs.

Former school board member Kathleen Brown, and a few other
residents, said the board would be in error by not increasing taxes by the
total amount allowed under Act 1.

Other residents and current board members disagreed.

“We are dipping into the pockets of our neighbors,” said
member Jeff Leiser.

Member Keith Knauss said he felt that even the 2.88 percent
increase was too high. He prefers an increase of only 2 percent, he said.

Parker said cuts were made as far away from the point of
education as possible.

A copy of the proposed budget is available on line at www.ucfsd.org.

After 37 years, Chadds Ford Township has a new Comprehensive
Plan. The Board of Supervisors voted 2-0 (with Supervisor George Thorpe absent)
to adopt the new plan during their May 5 meeting. The last plan was adopted in
1973.

According to Ray Ott, whose consulting firm worked with
township volunteers on the project, the plan covers all the requirements of the
state’s Municipalities Planning Code.

It includes a statement of goals, a land use plan, a plan to
meet future housing needs and a facilities plan among other points.

Of the considerations on future housing needs, Ott said the
plan projects a population growth of up to 1,999 more people by 2030 with an
additional 829 dwelling units needed.

He said population projections are not science, but “more of
an art.”

The plan also addresses goals to protect open space, public
places and the need to provide for recreation as well as for residential and
commercial growth.

Part of the process used to develop the plan included
surveys mailed to residents and interviews with 11 community members. People
were able to give their opinions land use, trails and open space, roads and
township services.

The new plan is more than 80 pages, while the old plan was a
single sheet of paper with a map on one side and text on the other.

The Comprehensive Plan becomes part of the zoning code, Ott
said.

Other business

Greg Chestnut, president of the Rachel Kohl Community
Library Board of Trustees told the supervisors that the library is looking to
expand. It had been sharing the building with Concord Township, but the
township moved to new facilities.

The library bought the rest of the building, Chestnut said,
and will first renovate the existing structure, then add on to build and expand
the children’s library and add more meeting room space.