On March 3, Governor Tom Wolf presented his state budget proposal to the Legislature. Governor Wolf highlighted the importance of a strong public education system to our future. The funding of public education was a focus of the speech. He seeks to restore the cuts in education funding that have occurred in recent years. He also recognized the burden of funding schools primarily through property taxes. Governor Wolf proposed significantly reducing the school property tax and replacing it with a combination of other taxes.
The proposed budget includes an increase of $400 million in basic education subsidy, $100 million in special education subsidy, and a property tax relief package that includes $3.8 billion effective for the 2016 tax year. The proposal includes the state assuming responsibility for 50% of the funding of public education; a funding rate not provided since the 1970s. In addition, the Governor proposed a property tax reduction of roughly 50% for the average homeowner. This would be achieved through an increase in the personal income tax, the sales tax, and a new natural gas extraction tax. The plan also calls for reforms in the funding of Cyber Charter Schools that would save school districts $160 million. Cyber Charter Schools would no longer be funded based on the cost to educate a student in a traditional school but instead based on an established statewide tuition rate.
Based on the Governor’s proposal, the Fleetwood Area School District would receive an additional $321,244 in basic education funding and an additional $171,262 in special education funding. The proposal also includes a property tax relief that would be distributed in 2016-2017 in the amount $6,873,411.48 which, based on the total approved homestead/farmstead properties for 2014-2015, would equate to a property tax reduction of approximately $1,580.00 per approved homeowner.
School districts would be required to submit a plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education on how additional funds would be used to improve student achievement. Districts would have a choice of selecting one of fourteen different options, each of which has demonstrated (through research) their positive impact on student achievement. Student performance would then be measured in the area where the additional funds were used.
Governor Wolf is also proposing Social Impact Bonds that would be focused on supporting early childhood education and school-to-work initiatives. He proposed a $120 million increase in early childhood education that would enroll more than 14,000 additional children (a 75% increase).
Finally, the Governor presented a new funding plan to address the increasing costs of the state pension. The plan includes a dedicated restricted pension account, debt refinancing, and a reduction in management fees that reportedly would result in savings of $370 million for school districts.
The legislature has just begun its review and discussion of the Governor’s proposed budget. We will not know for months the specific state funding that we will receive. In the interim, each district must decide whether to budget the increased funds in the Governor’s budget or not.
Upcoming Events in the Fleetwood Area School District
April 2, 3, 6 – Spring Break, No School for Students
April 18 – Pasta and Presto, 3 – 9 p.m.
April 27 – 4th Grade Concert, 7 p.m. HS Auditorium
April 28 – 5th Grade Concert, 7 p.m. HS Auditorium
May 5 – Intermediate Spring Concert, 7 p.m. MS Auditorium
May 7 – HS Jazz and Choral Spring Concert, 7 p.m. HS Auditorium
The Board of School Directors will hold meetings on April 14 and 21, both at 7 p.m. in the high school board room.
