BOYERTOWN >> With a vote of 8-1 on Tuesday evening, the Boyertown Area School Board approved the $111.1 million budget for the 2016-17 school year. This approval puts into effect a uniform tax of 24.27 mills for both Berks and Montgomery counties.
The rate brings a .31 mills or 1.29 percent increase to Berks County. Based on tax equalization, taxes on a $100,000 home in Berks County would increase by $31. Montgomery County will see an increase of .41 mills or 1.72 percent; taxes on a $100,000 home in Montgomery County would increase by $41.
Christine Neiman was the only board member to vote against the budget, stating “I don’t think we’ve done enough work on it,” prior to the vote. She added that there’s no need to keep hiring since there aren’t as many students as last year, and that the buildings aren’t be used to full capacity.
Board member Donna Usavage made note that is supportive of the budget but is concerned about switching from the market value to a uniform tax rate. “We have used market value since the district was created. When you talk about fairness – it’s all in the way you look at it,” stated Usavage. “I’m supportive because the rest of the board wants to do this.”
Several board members commented on their favoritism toward the uniform rate, include Paul Stengle. “I think it’s equitable to do the tax adjustment; one tax for all. We are one school district, we are the Boyertown School District, and we are united.” He spoke about the open spaces in Berks County and how that affects the property taxes.
Included in this year’s budget is $1.3 million in mandated retirement contributions – a rate which will level off in future years according to Chief Financial Officer David Szablowski.
In addition to the budget, the board also approved the design development plans for the Boyertown Junior High West renovation and addition project with a vote of 5-4. This project includes a budget estimate of $20.8 million; an increase of about $5 million from the projections last year.
Members Jill Dennin, Stephen Elsier, John Landino, David Lewis and Donna Usavage were in favor of moving forward with the project while Robert Caso, Christine Neiman, Paul Stengle and Clay Breece each expressed caution in regards to declining enrollment and also about the rising cost of the project.
“The building needs work, for whatever reason,” said Caso, stating he would like the budget to be held at $15-16 million – the original project estimate. “Given overall conditions and declining enrollment, we need to sharpen our pencils further.”
Stephen Elsier, chairman of the Facilities Planning Committee, said there has been a lot of work to put this together. “To me this is the next step; I feel we have done due diligence for it. It just seems to be the right thing to do, and we will not have to worry about things for many, many years.”
“The money is not out there,” said Neiman, explaining how she’s not going to spend tax money on something that is not needed but could support the need for a broiler a secure entrance. “The rest we need to hold off on. The population is going down We are going to have debt here that the residents cannot afford; do what we need to do, then stop- wait and see what we need.”
The approval of the design plans will allow the district to seek bids for the project. Immediately following, the recommendation was made to appoint KCBC Architects of Hatfield as the architect of record for the Junior High West project which includes additions and renovations. The board approved this recommendation with a vote of 8-1.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19, at 7 p.m. at the Education Center.
