T/E School Board Moves Ahead With Deficit-Closing Preliminary Budget​

At a special meeting on Jan. 3, the Tredyffrin Eastown School District Board of School Directors approved the display of the 2017-2018 preliminary budget that contains a tax hike to close a projected operating deficit.

According to the district, the board voted unanimously, 9-0, to give district administration the permission to display the 2017-2018 preliminary budget proposal.

The preliminary budget contains a 3.4 percent property tax increase that will ideally close the projected operating deficit for the 2017-2018. The deficit is projected to be $5.4 million, the district said.

The proposed 3.4 percent property tax hike consists of 2.5 percent from the legislated Act 1 index and .94 percent projected from referendum exception.

The Act 1 numbers will account for $2.6 million and the referendum exceptions will account for $482,000 and $485,000 each. Those numbers bring the deficit down to about $1.8 million.

The exceptions must be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the district will make the case the increase is needed due to special education expenditure increases and increases in the district's contributions to the Pennsylvania State Employee Retirement System.

The board will meet on Jan. 23 to vote on adopting the preliminary budget. If approved, the district will file the exceptions with the PDE. Budget workshops will be held in March and April before the board votes on adopting the final 2017-2018 budget on April 24.

You can watch the Jan. 3 special board meeting online here.

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