The Columbia School Board and Administration will hold a public meeting to discuss the 2011-2012 budget and property tax impact.
The meeting will be held tomorrow night, Tuesday, March 29, 7 p.m., in the high school, auditorium.
Showing posts with label Columbia School Board budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Columbia School Board budget. Show all posts
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, June 21, 2010
Board approves budget and salaries
The Columbia School Board adopted its 2010-11 budget at its meeting Thursday night by a 6-2 vote. The new budget calls for a tax increase of 1.013 mills for property owners in the borough.
The new milage increase property owners will see their taxes rise by $25.37 per $1,000 of assessed value of their property.
However, those who filed and received approval for the Homestead/Farmstead exceptions will see their taxes reduced by $284.63. Those exceptions amount to 2,234 properties.
Voting against the new budget were board members Ven Detz and Terry Doutrich.
The total amount of the district’s new fiscal year budge is $21,954,540, which will be funded from revenues totaling $21,219,756 and to balance the budget, an estimated one-time expenditure of $734,784 will be taken from budget reserves if needed.
Detz was the most vocal about the budget, reading from a prepared statement.
“I’ve heard on numerous occasions that it’s all about the kids! Truth be told, it should be all about the students of Columbia Borough School District. However, I have a hard time believing that to be the case when I see the decisions made by this Board over the last 3 years. Anytime you talk of tightening your belts, it’s a cut to the education programs for these students you’re supposedly here to serve. It’s a cut to the Curriculum budget or a cut to the Extra Curricular budget or the talk of pay to play sports, where does it stop when it comes to our students? The lack of funding for Special Education is the reason given for the ever increasing taxes and while we may be under funded for Special Education, there are other things under our control that would help our economic situation,” Detz said.
“When this action is approved tonight, the cost of this administration for a student body of 570 students in grades 7-12 will be $895,697 in salaries without Dr. Clippinger's salary accounted for until August, which, when added in, will put us over $1 million in salaries alone, throw in their benefit package and the costs soar even higher. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is tax money leaving the Borough with very little if any of it being spent in Columbia as none of these administrators live in Columbia Borough. The salaries and wages that were negotiated in the last teachers contract by the previous Board giving 3.5-3.8 percent raises over the life of the contract and the proposed 3-3.5% for the support staff will continue to add to our economic challenges as a District.,” Detz said.
Detz after reading his statement was asked where he would cut the budget.
“Where would you cut the budget?” Dave Mountz, another board member asked Detz.
“That’s a tough call. Freezing salaries would have been a start,” Detz said.
“It’s not going to happen. Boards have tried that over the last 20 years,” Mountz said.
“Don’t you think all school districts in Lancaster County have tried to freeze wages. It just doesn’t happen. At least with the administrative salaries we have some control,” Mountz said.
“It’s though to do and things have been done, but we have to take a sttand,” Detz said.
“We did cut an administrator and positions in the instructional staff. That needs to be acknowledged,” said Kathy Hohenadel, another board member.
“Any increase will be a burden on our taxpayers and home owners,” Detz said.
Two citizens also addressed the board concerning the budget.
Bruce Murray, who owns Elite Energy, questioned the raises.
“The normal person isn’t getting 3.5 percent. If this continues, I’ll be selling my house and business and moving out of Columbia,” he said.
Frank Doutrich wanted the board to justify the increase.
“What do you tell a person on a fixed income? How do you explain it?” Doutrich asked the board.
President Tom Strickler said the board understands the questions about increasing taxes.
“We pay these taxes. We’re not exempt from taxes and we feel their pain,” Strickler said.
“It’s not correct that we (board members) are not part of the community. We tried to find the cuts that will not affect the kids,” Strickler said.
He suggested instead of speaking to the local board, residents address their concerns to their state and federal legislators because of the increasing unfunded mandates that are handed down.
“I wish everyone in this borough would get on buses and go to Harrisburg,” Strickler said.
Doutrich also spoke about the teacher’s contract, which was approved last year, stating the board didn’t fight enough in the negotiations to get a fair deal.
“You didn’t tighten your belts. It’s not all Harrisburg,” Doutrich said.
In addition to the board also approved the following administrative salaries for 2010-11.
* Dr. Diane Frey, assistant superintendent, $106,539.
* Laura Cowburn, assistant superintendent for business services, $113,125.
* Jennifer Zolenas-West, special education director, $86,449.
* Virginia Babic, high school principal, $83,423.
* Nathan McGlynn, assistant high school principal, $69,059.
* James Rhoads, dean of students/athletic director, $67,377.
* Michael Miller, building and grounds director, $74,823.
* Pamela Williams, technology curriculum integration director, $79,970.
* Jason Wise, technology director, $63,891.
* Michelle Westerman, food service director, $58,741.
* Deb Wallae, elementary principal, $92,300.
The new milage increase property owners will see their taxes rise by $25.37 per $1,000 of assessed value of their property.
However, those who filed and received approval for the Homestead/Farmstead exceptions will see their taxes reduced by $284.63. Those exceptions amount to 2,234 properties.
Voting against the new budget were board members Ven Detz and Terry Doutrich.
The total amount of the district’s new fiscal year budge is $21,954,540, which will be funded from revenues totaling $21,219,756 and to balance the budget, an estimated one-time expenditure of $734,784 will be taken from budget reserves if needed.
Detz was the most vocal about the budget, reading from a prepared statement.
“I’ve heard on numerous occasions that it’s all about the kids! Truth be told, it should be all about the students of Columbia Borough School District. However, I have a hard time believing that to be the case when I see the decisions made by this Board over the last 3 years. Anytime you talk of tightening your belts, it’s a cut to the education programs for these students you’re supposedly here to serve. It’s a cut to the Curriculum budget or a cut to the Extra Curricular budget or the talk of pay to play sports, where does it stop when it comes to our students? The lack of funding for Special Education is the reason given for the ever increasing taxes and while we may be under funded for Special Education, there are other things under our control that would help our economic situation,” Detz said.
“When this action is approved tonight, the cost of this administration for a student body of 570 students in grades 7-12 will be $895,697 in salaries without Dr. Clippinger's salary accounted for until August, which, when added in, will put us over $1 million in salaries alone, throw in their benefit package and the costs soar even higher. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is tax money leaving the Borough with very little if any of it being spent in Columbia as none of these administrators live in Columbia Borough. The salaries and wages that were negotiated in the last teachers contract by the previous Board giving 3.5-3.8 percent raises over the life of the contract and the proposed 3-3.5% for the support staff will continue to add to our economic challenges as a District.,” Detz said.
Detz after reading his statement was asked where he would cut the budget.
“Where would you cut the budget?” Dave Mountz, another board member asked Detz.
“That’s a tough call. Freezing salaries would have been a start,” Detz said.
“It’s not going to happen. Boards have tried that over the last 20 years,” Mountz said.
“Don’t you think all school districts in Lancaster County have tried to freeze wages. It just doesn’t happen. At least with the administrative salaries we have some control,” Mountz said.
“It’s though to do and things have been done, but we have to take a sttand,” Detz said.
“We did cut an administrator and positions in the instructional staff. That needs to be acknowledged,” said Kathy Hohenadel, another board member.
“Any increase will be a burden on our taxpayers and home owners,” Detz said.
Two citizens also addressed the board concerning the budget.
Bruce Murray, who owns Elite Energy, questioned the raises.
“The normal person isn’t getting 3.5 percent. If this continues, I’ll be selling my house and business and moving out of Columbia,” he said.
Frank Doutrich wanted the board to justify the increase.
“What do you tell a person on a fixed income? How do you explain it?” Doutrich asked the board.
President Tom Strickler said the board understands the questions about increasing taxes.
“We pay these taxes. We’re not exempt from taxes and we feel their pain,” Strickler said.
“It’s not correct that we (board members) are not part of the community. We tried to find the cuts that will not affect the kids,” Strickler said.
He suggested instead of speaking to the local board, residents address their concerns to their state and federal legislators because of the increasing unfunded mandates that are handed down.
“I wish everyone in this borough would get on buses and go to Harrisburg,” Strickler said.
Doutrich also spoke about the teacher’s contract, which was approved last year, stating the board didn’t fight enough in the negotiations to get a fair deal.
“You didn’t tighten your belts. It’s not all Harrisburg,” Doutrich said.
In addition to the board also approved the following administrative salaries for 2010-11.
* Dr. Diane Frey, assistant superintendent, $106,539.
* Laura Cowburn, assistant superintendent for business services, $113,125.
* Jennifer Zolenas-West, special education director, $86,449.
* Virginia Babic, high school principal, $83,423.
* Nathan McGlynn, assistant high school principal, $69,059.
* James Rhoads, dean of students/athletic director, $67,377.
* Michael Miller, building and grounds director, $74,823.
* Pamela Williams, technology curriculum integration director, $79,970.
* Jason Wise, technology director, $63,891.
* Michelle Westerman, food service director, $58,741.
* Deb Wallae, elementary principal, $92,300.
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