Published Tuesday, June 25, 2002
to vote Wednesday; 700 sign petition
By Erin Remai
Herald Staff Writer
Reynolds school directors are expected to vote Wednesday on the approximate $14.5 million budget for the 2002-03 school year.
Because of a $2 million deficit that was discovered May 1, the budget may carry a large tax increase.
Factors that contributed to the $2 million shortfall include a pattern of deficit spending during the last five years, the omission of $1.2 in transportation money from the projected budget, declining student enrollment, increased state mandates and decreased state funding, officials say.
Last month, directors voted on a $14,514,549 preliminary budget that included a 12.5 mill -- or 28 percent -- tax increase. Last week, Superintendent Dr. Anthony Trosan said, through trimming of the budget, the tax increase was reduced to 7 mills, or 16 percent.
Trosan said at Monday's board work session he believed the tax increase would now be less than 7 mills, but was not ready to say if that was definite. He said everything in the budget would be double-checked before Wednesday's board meeting, and that the blanks on the work session agenda in the budget section for millage and revenues would be filled in for the regular board meeting agenda.
A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of a property's assessed value. Each mill brings the district about $75,000 and costs the average taxpayer $15.90.
Last year, county commissioners changed the property tax assessment ratio from 33.3 percent of a property's 1970 market value to 100 percent, decreasing all millage to a third of its former level but keeping dollar amounts intact.
Last year's millage was set at 129 old mills, or 43 new mills.
School districts cannot raise taxes more than 10 percent in the year after a ratio change without court approval. A hearing is scheduled for the district at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Mercer County Common Pleas Court before Judge Francis J. Fornelli.
The prospect of a hefty tax increase has some residents of the community worried, especially those on fixed or low incomes.
Bernice Julia of West Salem Township presented the board with a petition signed by more than 700 people opposing the tax increase and asking the board to consider other options to manage funds.
"Some (residents) really have a problem just managing day to day," she said. "When they get a tax increase, they are getting a pay cut."
Questions also continued about the retention of administrators, including four principals for two school buildings, when 12 teaching positions, eight cafeteria monitors and eight special education aides are on the line. The director of curriculum, two security guards and an attendance officer were also on the list of cuts distributed at the May board meeting.
Last week , administrators offered to take a wage freeze if teachers and non-teaching employees agreed to do the same. Leesa Caputo, president of the teachers union, said last week teachers are not willing to take pay cuts.
"Teachers did not take a wage freeze, they took cuts," said Bob Fairchild, a Delaware Township resident. "Aides did not take a wage freeze, they took cuts. Cafeteria monitors did not take a wage freeze, they took cuts. Our kids have taken the cuts most of all. Isn't it time the top-heavy administration takes its fair share of employee cuts as well?"
Board President Bradley Stull said the board is taking all things into consideration, including administration.
Trosan said after the meeting that the proportion of expenses cut from the administrative budget was more than the proposed staff cuts. He said cuts were made in nearly every category of the budget, including supplies, rentals and food costs.
"You name it ... we looked at it," he said.
The board will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the large group instruction room at the high school.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Erin Remai at eremai@sharon-herald.com.