Tuesday, February 19, 2013
The governor's spending plan is expected to provide school districts with close to $10 million in taxpayer assistance.
Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed 2013-14 state budget is expected to provide Pennsylvania school districts with more than $9.83 billion in taxpayer assistance. For the Plum School District, that translates to a $1.06-million increase for the 2013-14 school year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Riverview School District is expected to see a $235,694 increase for the 2013-14 school year. Net pension savings for Plum are proposed at $276,786, while Riverview's savings are proposed at $102,761. Riverview officials already have prepared what they are calling "a very preliminary" budget in an attempt to apply for Act 1 exceptions to the tax rate millage cap due to the uncertainties of state education funding, pension costs and …
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Both schools kept their promise of keeping tuition hikes at or below the consumer price index if state lawmakers maintained funding at current levels.
Sending your kid to Pitt or Penn State? Ka-ching! The boards of trustees of both schools voted Friday to increase tuition, but kept their promise to state lawmakers to hold the hikes at or below the consumer price index, in exchange for no additional cuts in state funding. A student at Penn State's University Park flagship campus will see an increase of 2.9 percent over last year's tuition cost of $15,124. That figure does not include room and board. The increase is the lowest percentage tuition boost in 45 years and one of the smallest in the nation, according to university officials, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Tuition at the university's 19 branch campuses will increase by 1.9 percent, and out-of-state undergraduates at the …
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
The board approved the 2012-13 budget with a 5-3 vote.
Real estate taxes for Plum School District residents will remain steady for the 2012-13 school year, but two electives have been cut. On Tuesday, the Plum School Board voted 5-3 to approve a $56.7 million budget, which included taking $1.6 million from the close to $6 million fund balance to cover a deficit. Board members Tom McGough, Joe Tommarello and Loretta White dissented. John St. Leger was absent. The current millage is 22.2 mills, and it has not increased since 2005. Last week, expenses in the preliminary budget increased by an additional $232,367, which included the purchase of new laptops, and money to go toward the resurfacing of the high school track and additional parking at the high school. Officials agreed to take the amount…
Friday, June 22, 2012
The board is expected to vote on a final budget that holds taxes steady but cuts the junior high Family & Consumer Sciences/high school Drivers' Education programs.
The Plum Borough School District 2012-13 budget has changed since the board approved a preliminary budget last month, but cuts to elective programs and three teaching positions still are included. On Tuesday, Superintendent Timothy Glasspool presented an updated version of the $55.6 million, which included an additional $7,333 in revenue and an additional $232,367 in expenses—that includes the purchase of new laptops, and money to go toward the resurfacing of the high school track and additional parking at the high school. Because officials are set on not raising real estate taxes for residents, the extra expenses most likely will be covered from the district's fund balance of about $6 million. The current millage is 22.2 mills, and it has…
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
"There's money to be made shortchanging kids' educations," letter writer says.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
For the second straight year, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed massive education budget cuts. For the second straight year, Corbett has proposed massive cuts to colleges, universities and K-12 public schools. For the second straight year, Corbett has proposed the state do less for its citizens and more for big business. Why? It’s all about profits. There’s money to be made shortchanging kids’ educations. States throughout the country spend the majority of their budgets on schools. On average, states spend about 40 percent of their tax revenues on K-12 and colleges, according to The National Association of State Budget Officers. That’s some $400 billion every year. Pennsylvania comes in somewhat below the national average with …
Ernie
10:47 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
While I agree with you that reducing school funding is putting a pinch on all local communities, I still fail to see alternatives.... Let's, for the sake of argument, assume that your rejection of the notion that our Budget is NOT in balance is just plain wrong. Again, this is just for debate. I for one am willing to accept that the Budget will not be in Balance without spending cuts. So, this is… more ›