Budget time in U-CF

Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board directors Monday night approved a preliminary budget for the 2019-2020 academic year. As is always the case with preliminary budgets, the figures will likely change before the board votes on the final budget on June 17. And taxes are expected to rise.

The figures, as they stand now, include $90,848,158 in estimated revenues and $90,863,125 in estimated expenditures. According to the district, estimated expenditures are up 4.32 percent. That increase is based on technology initiatives, $9.5 million to continue the 10-year plan, staffing shortage issues, as well as paying for current education and support programs.

The increase in spending brings with it an increase in taxes. The proposed millage rate for Chester County is now 29.55 mills — an increase of 3.65 percent — and 26.05 mills for Delaware County property owners, an increase of 3.58 percent. The weighted average increase is 3.63 percent. (A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed value.)

To avoid going to referendum because the increases are in excess of the Act I limit of 2.3 percent, the district will seek exception dollars of $856,000. District Business Manager Bob Cochran said $915,946 in exceptions is available.

Cochran called the preliminary budget a “worse-case scenario,” but added there “are still refinements that need to be made during the springtime.

Superintendent John Sanville reiterated that this was not the final budget, rather it’s one that “leaves our options open” before the final budget is proposed and voted on in June. “This is not going to be our final budget. Our real work is really ahead of us with regard to the budget.”

The preliminary budget passed 9-0.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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