School Directors to Discuss Preliminary Budget Monday
Armstrong School District Board President Joseph Close opens a portrait of himself drawn by students during last week’s School Director Recognition Month. Each board member received a sketch and travel mug, along with the student representatives that report school activities to the board each month.
by Jonathan Weaver
Armstrong school board directors will meet for the third week in a row in a special meeting next week.
Board directors will meet at 6:30PM Monday in the district’s administration building to discuss a preliminary budget for the 2013-14 school year.
Armstrong County taxpayers currently pay 54.27 mills after school directors raised property taxes 1.27 mills last year. Indiana County residents living within the Armstrong School District had a 40-mill tax increase during this school year thanks to a State assessment error.
School directors are currently working with an $86 million budget during the 2012-13 school year.
A telecommunications contract was unanimously approved last month with Eric Ryan Corporation to review electric and utility bills, as well as over-taxation and utilization.
The proposal was recommended by Director of Business Affairs John Zenone at the beginning of the month.
“I believe (Eric Ryan) will find savings. I highly recommend this outfit – they’ve had a lot of success,” Zenone said.
The corporation would only be compensated if they do find savings.
School directors also approved a resolution to try and refinance 2003 and 2006 General Obligation Bonds issued, which might affect this coming budget.
School directors heard an informal proposal during their open caucus session regarding drilling Marcellus Shale gas wells around the current Lenape Elementary school in Manor Township. School directors did not discuss the proposal at Monday’s regular monthly meeting, but school directors reportedly discussed ‘real estate’ in an executive session.
Based on current natural gas prices and 15 percent royalties, Armstrong School District would receive $3,500 per month per well, according to Dave Mattini of MDS Energy.
The possible Everlasting Elderton Charter School – which founding board members gave a presentation to establish during a public hearing in December - could also impact the preliminary budget proposals discussed Monday. ASD board members vote on that action by March.
School directors passed the Act 1 Inflationary index in January 2012, which capped the possible tax increase at 1.27 mills. Such action has not been taken at either of the past two meetings.
The preliminary budget would be available for public inspection during normal business hours from Wednesday, January 23 until its tentative adoption.
The budget will work on a fiscal year cycle: starting July 1 and ranging until June 30, 2014.
The special meeting will be televised live on Family-Life TV.
Armstrong School District | jweaver January 17, 2013
By Jerri, January 22, 2013 @ 2:35 PM
Who owns MDS Energy? Never mind. I think we know.