School board anticipates tax increase in Chester County

Posted by Jim Phreaner on April 11, 2012

Chester County property owners in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District should
prepare for a 2.69 percent school tax increase next year. Delaware County property owners — those in Chzadds Ford Township — will
probably see a modest 1.74 reduction in their school tax. The anticipated
blended tax increase should be 1.83 percent.

Chester County and Delaware County have
different real estate assessment policy that drives the annual tax rate
fluctuation.

The April 9 Finance Committee meeting
fine-tuned several proposed budget adjustments. Bob Cochran, U-CFSD business manager, said, “The financial
detail for adjustments to the proposed 2012 – 13 budget will be provided in
detail on the U-CFSD Web page within the next week.”

Keith Knauss, School Board Finance
Committee chairman said, “There are at least five [of nine] board votes for
approving this maintenance budget. While I would like to see further expense
cuts, the majority of the board is satisfied with the proposed budget. We will
not vote on the proposed budget until May as there is a remote possibility Gov.
Corbett may propose additional funding for public education grades kindergarten
through high school for 2012 – 2013.”

Frank Murphy, board vice president said,
“The steep increases over the next three years in the district’s employee
retirement funding (“PSERS”) are justification for not reducing the current
district cash reserves. We are maintaining the excellent education our residents
support, but not supporting any increases in programs provided to our students.

Vic DuPuis, chairman of the Revenue
Initiation Committee said, “We welcome participation and ideas from district
residents for revenue generation from our high school grounds and
buildings. We have a performing
arts center, athletic fields and a cafeteria which could provide additional
revenue for the district. Some
local school districts are considering advertising in school cafeterias,
athletic fields and buses.” DuPuis
said the Revenue Initiation Committee will be developing contact with a
marketing consultant to learn the options and then determine policy guidelines.

About Jim Phreaner

After 41 years of auditing large NYSE global corporations, former IRS Agent Jim Phreaner was looking for a project in retirement with fewer regulations and more people. He joined the staff at Chadds Ford Live more than a year ago. James Edward “Jim” Phreaner, 64, died suddenly in his Birmingham Township home on Dec.17, 2012. Jim was a devoted husband, son, father, friend, and neighbor.