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.
22 comments:
Mr. Detz, as expected, you had no REAL answer to Mr. Mountz' question. Kind of typical, I think. Cause the problem, but don't offer a solution. Perhaps if you had a solutionor an idea, more people would respect your comments.
Yes, the salaries are high, especially when you have an elementary principal, making $92,000, who is marginal at best and a janitor making $75,000, who is overrated and some technology person, who doesn't do the work of the other person. Perhaps some type of salary scale would be beneficial.
“I wish everyone in this borough would get on buses and go to Harrisburg,” Strickler said.
Maybe Mr. Strickler should stop handing out raises to the teachers, then maybe the teachers would get on a bus to Harrisburg and bitch!!!!
Why should I as resident go to Harrisburg because this local Board raised my taxes??
I believe Vern did offer a solution, STOP APPROVING RAISES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You probably could feeze the administrative raises but remember school boards have very little control. 95 percent of what they do are mandates from the federal and state government. I am not taking up for Mr. Strickler, but he is right about taking buses to Harrisburg to speak with the legislators. Perhaps eliminating waste -- here are 3 people -- tue assistant superintendent, the elementary principal and the building and grounds director and the technology curriculum person. Savings -- $354,000
If we could go back fifty years when Columbia had a chance to be a larger town that it is today . Your tax base sits in area's such as George Mcginnis's large acreage that sits in a tax shelter that Frank Doutrich will protect for him , since that's his buddy . Let's go back when George was on zoning and look what land was Columbia's and turned into his . Stop bitching about your taxes , if you don't like them leave the town . Frank and Vern have done nothing but tear this town down and does not want it to succeed . Columbia's teachers are the lowest paid in the county and have the toughest jobs to handle because of lower income families with challenged kids . Kudos for Columbia High for not saying no to kids who have needs .
Folks, Hello, When you vote don't you put your trust in you polition. After the election do you ever go to a meeting to see how they vote? Why Not? You would be supprised. Six to two passed the budjet and the administration raises.One was on vacation. They missed a great opportunity to start by freezing wages of all school employees.No social security raises and a bad bad economy. We could do justice for the taxpayers by firing Mike Miller. Should of never been hired. Thank you Vern and Terry.
I like the comment about Frank and Vern tearing this town down. Pretty brazen for someone to say this as anonymous. What's truly tearing this town down is the taxes that we pay for both the School district and Borough taxes. To hide behind an anonymous blog sounds like someone who has relatives or friends on the board and is in some way benefiting from our high taxes. I was the target of a George McGinnis years ago during elections. One person can not destroy a town as the above writer claims. Our School Finance Manager made a similar statement regarding if you can't afford the taxes..... downsize. Interesting group of individuals who stick together.......
The Cyber school issue is another waste of taxpayers money. What does it cost the district to allow these kids to be "home schooled" by a computer? A computer that the district must pay for. Thousands per year per student! And one can be sure that not one of these students are going to be the next Albert Einstein. Cyber schooling is for those kids and parents too lazy to get their kids to school. Again though, this is a Harrisburg issue being forced down our throats. Mr. Miller seems to think he runs the school...he makes decisions without approval from the administration. Does he think this money is HIS money? Maybe he has tenure too?!?! The mentality seems to be that once you have a job in ths town/school, you have it for life!
We can not satisfy everybody, but there should be a way to tax the multiple family dwellings in Columbia. The slumlord who ownes the 4 unit next to me pays $500.00 more a year in taxes. They are the ones that rent to single parents with multiple kids that go to our schools. Here is is a shocker the slumloard lives in another town. Not only dose he not care what the apartment looklike or how the tenants act He and his tenants win big in Columbia. Fix this situation and I think you can satisfy MOST home owners and tax payers. Sorry Landlords of multiple unit buildings.
Invaded in Columbia
Multiple family dwelling are the single biggest drain on the Columbia Community and affect nearly every aspect of both the school and borough finances. It is high time Columbia realizes this fact. Pointing fingers and calling each other names only holds us back...we need to take our town back.
Mr. Detz -- here's the question -- what are you on -- boro council or the school board. I understand that you have missed a number of school board meetings and school events (where there are kids and you are there for the kids right? to attend boro council meetings. Missed you "Mr. I am there for the kids" at graduation!
Really??? I didn't realize anybody had to choose either the school board or the borough to be concerned with. You know he works 10-12 hour days, 6 days a week, has a family and you're bitching because he missed graduation? PLEASE!!!!!!!! And why does he have to severe ties when it comes to the borough meetings? He attended school board meetings while serving on council too. I CALL THIS A DEDICATED COLUMBIA RESIDENT, and I thank him for attending as much as he can. Where is your dedication? Do you sit on any boards, committees or organizations? Probably not, but I'll guess you are probably on one of the taxing body's payroll. Go find another tree to bark up if you are that stupid to realize it is ALSO YOUR tax dollar he is trying to protect.
I have to agree with Vern but why isn't anyone asking the obvious questions? If our taxes are the second highest in the county why are our teachers paid so poorly? Even more important, why are we receiving such poor results? Putting aside hometown pride for a minute, by any independent measure I've seen, Columbia schools rank pretty poorly. Why isn't someone holding alll of these very well paid administrators accountable for this?
All I can say is that this is a hell of alot of money to ask a population of around 10,000 folks, many on low or fixed income, to cover. 570 students in 6 grades? You do the math, it's about time that Columbia administrators start SERIOUSLY looking into merging with another school district. Graduating classes of less than 100? Maybe in the 1930's, but in 2010?
Landlords of multi families are not Columbia's problem. One must dig deeper. Why do we have multi-families? The reason why is because Landlords can purchase them for a cheap enough price in Columbia and make money on them. Why are they Cheap? Because Columbia has few Professional jobs to demand higher home prices.
I do Agree that there should be some type of tax per individual on a property though.
So, the biggest drain on Columbia is Jobs !
Okay, I've been going to meetings for years. I am a proud resident of Columbia, have volunteered my time for our great town and am considering more. The one comment, I keep hearing over and over, that leaves me shaking my head. And no, I don't have any ties to boro council or the school board,but to get elected to boro council and school board, you have to be as resident of Columbia. The people on bc or sb live in Columbia, pay their taxes so it does affect them. plus we elected them
Well those members, and I do know some of them, don't want to complain about the taxes going up because they don't want you to think they desperately need their money as the majority of us do. Even residents of Lititz got together and had over 500 signatures to fight a tax increase that was monetarily lower than our increase is, AND THEY WON!!!!!!! Do you think the majority of those people have less income than the majority of residents of Columbia? Most likely NOT, and they couldn't afford their boards proposed tax increase, what makes the Columbia SB think we can afford it? Columbia is forcing many residents into bankruptcy!!!
i can remember the backlash that came about when there was mention of "merging" school districts. i recall in the late 90's it was Donegal, there has always been mention of Hempfield, ect. columbia town residents do not want to merge with anyone...fine...then don't bitch when they have to raise your school taxes to cover costs mandated by the STATE. everyone looks at salaries, yes- salaries do have a little to do with the raises, but if you actually look at the facts, the majority of the money is for educational costs. if you want to stay independent, i believe the phrase that always comes up is "keep our identity," then it is going to be expensive. do research on how many school districts there are within the state of pa, then look at how many have closed/merged since 2000. the above posts are right, we graduate less than 100 kids per year, the pay for teachers is lowest in the county/state so getting quality teachers is non-existant, and the kids are not the greatest controlled. so again- the town wants their OWN high school, that's great but you're going to have to pay dearly for it.
The raises, while certainly challenging in today's economy do not account for much in the overall budget, while unfunded mandates and skewed special needs funding coming from Harrisburg is a huge problem. And Strickler has a point; perhaps if we all (including resident of other school districts who are experiencing similar problems) went to Harrisburg and complained, maybe the state would get the point.
But really, the rental situation in Columbia, if fixed, could go a long way too. Because of our disproportionately high percentage of rental units, especially low-income units, we attract a variety of problems. First, a rental property with, let’s just say 2 units each having 2 school-age children, generates enough taxes to pay for the education of about one half of a student...thus, the funds to educate three and half children must be generated elsewhere. Look around town; how many situations like this one or even worse exist?
Second, our rentals attract a disproportionately high percentage of special needs children, further compounding this problem. Same goes for our Charter Schoolers, which cost the community half a million dollars this year!
Add in residual costs of these rentals like higher crime rates (mostly domestic issues) burdening the police budget and the drag on neighboring property values and the problem is further compounded. Want more? Businesses like restaurants and shops have a hard time generating profit because the high rental populations actually reduce overall the market size. Nothing against lower income residents at all, but it is a fact that if you don’t have money, you don’t eat out often and buy your suits from Eichorns. This, in turn, drives down the value of commercial properties which helps to also drive down the value of residential properties; all meaning that fewer taxes are generated by existing properties, necessitating higher tax rates. This, in turn again, drives down property values. It’s all cyclical.
Sure there is a need for rentals in each and every community. No argument there. But ours have become problematic.
Okay folks --- its June and its time to pick on the school board. Perhaps Mr. Ford should save these comments when the borough does its budget. It will be the same thing, just different names.
Anybody seen the PSSA results? Personally I would have been all for a merger. In today's worls these things just make sense for everyone. Especially those of us footing the bill.
How many of the kids who graduate stay in town and help pay school taxes by buying homes here? We keep educatiing children and they move on, new ones move in etc. etc. Our kids need education but we can't afford it. Not a town that is left with seniors and renters.
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