TESD Admin Looking To Close $7.3M Deficit In Proposed Budget

TREDYFFRIN TOWNSHIP, PA — Tredyffrin/Easttown School District's board and administration are working to close a projected operating deficit of more than $7.3 million before the district's final budget must be approved in June.

Meanwhile, the Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board on April 26 took the next step in the state-mandated budget development process with the approval of a 2021-22 Proposed Final Budget. A May 10 meeting of the Finance Committee, with public participation, will be held virtually.

The 2021-22 Proposed Final Budget includes $149,644,319 in revenue, $14,134,517 in fund balance transfers, $163,778,836 for authorized spending.

The final property tax rate will not be set until the June board meeting. The 2021-22 Final Budget and property tax rate will not be set until the June 14 regular board meeting.

The administration said in a news release it has worked to reduce the operating deficit by presenting $5.8 million in cost reduction strategies to the board. The impact of the accepted budget strategies includes reductions in departmental and school-level budgets, debt service costs, substitutes, regular education contracted services, and one professional staff position.

The development of the 2021-22 budget will continue to be discussed at the upcoming May 10 Finance Committee meeting at 7 p.m.

A link to the virtual Finance Committee meeting will be available on the TESD website by 6 p.m. the day of the meeting.

"The T/E School Board encourages public participation during the budget development process and endeavors to reflect the input of joint stakeholders," the district's news statement said.

All school board committee meetings are open to the public and have public comment periods. Meeting dates and agendas are available on the TESD website at www.tesd.net.

Public comments may be submitted to Arthur J. McDonnell, Business Manager, at mcdonnella@tesd.net or to the T/E School Board at schoolboard@tesd.net.

A full video recording of the April 26 meeting can be viewed here.

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