School board looks at ways to trim tax increase proposal
By PAT FRIDGEN Echo Pilot
The budget worksession of the Greencastle-Antrim School Board May 1 started as it has not in the recent past.

"What do you want?" asked Superintendent C. Gregory Hoover. "We can make cuts at your direction."

Two weeks ago Business Manager Richard Lipella recommended a 4.7 mill tax increase to meet a budget ceiling of $32,418,510 for the 2008-2009 school year. felt such an increase was not justified due to the economy and sought ways to trim it.

Charles McClain said he had taken more comments from citizens on the issue than anything else during his tenure.

Lipella said revenues tended to come in higher than budgeted so he could adjust that figure by $100,000. He said Pennsylvania gaming money was going to benefit the school district by $600,000, which resulted in a $133 property tax cut to approved property owners, regardless of assessed value. The reduction would show up on the summer tax statements.

With other adjustments in staffing, maintenance, timing of payments, and expenditures he thought he could drop the tax in- crease to 3.5 mills. "I'm not comfortable below 3.2 mills."

McClain noted that for the past four years mills had been raised but the school district had never taken funds out of the reserve. The budget's reserve was $4.6 million for next year.

"The analogy is, people are having to touch their savings accounts now," he said. "We need to do that too. Maybe we should be willing to touch the reserve."

Other board members chimed in.

"Consumer confidence is very low now," said Arnie Jansen. "If we raise taxes people become more cautious. We add to the recession problem."

Mike Shindle asked what would happen down the road if the board helped the public now.

Paul Politis said, "If we don't raise taxes this year, people have short memories and won't remember that in three years."

"It is the present," responded Eric Holtzman. "People are concerned about losing their jobs tomorrow, and the tax increase." He said businesses were slashing expenses.

During public comment, Nate Bacon suggested a citizen committee review the budget and offer recommendations. He thought the school district was top heavy in administration, citing Chambersburg when it had 700 students per grade level, one high school principal, one assistant principal, and no deans or directors of education. He recommended putting administrators back in the classroom and intensively examining the budget. "It's really hitting homeowners."

The likelihood of full day kindergarten for all students next year was addressed, with two new teaching positions in the budget for that. Lipella said the switch could result in added cafeteria staff and an extra bus route. Jansen was wary of the move, saying it would put pressure on constructing another school building sooner.

Several administrators said to remember 'Children First' in support of full day kindergarten.

"It should be based on it all, the whole package," said Jansen, referring to funding. "And I'm willing to debate it right now."

Jansen also asked for more specific breakdowns on line items. He said the budget for general supplies this year was $458,000, only $378,000 was spent yet the new budget called for a 20 percent increase. He wondered if school improvement grants used for administrator conferences in other states could be spent in other ways, and the answer was yes.

Another topic considered was Chambersburg superintendent Joseph Padasak's suggestion that Franklin County go to a four-day school week.

Lipella said the high school and middle school were eligible for renovations in 2011 and 2012. Other possible future projects were renovating the stadium and new construction.

The board will discuss the budget again May 15 and pass the final version June 5.