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.
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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