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MILL HALL -- The proposed 3.83% tax hike the Keystone Central School Board will consider during its May 11 meeting is not attributed to any one expense.
This was the explanation brought to the public in a statement created by Superintendent Dr. Jacquelyn Martin and Business Manager Joni McIntyre this week.
Martin read a lengthy statement on behalf of herself and McIntyre during the board's work session Thursday night.
Martin said this statement was requested by the district's finance committee, following a meeting last week.
All told, the preliminary expense budget comes in at about $89 million.
A 3.83% increase would generate about $999,981 and would represent, on average, a $55 rise for residential property owners in Keystone next year, according to an estimate released by the board.
If the board chooses to approve the preliminary budget during its meeting next Thursday, it wouldn't hold a final vote for adoption until June.
The committee, according to Martin, asked for the statement regarding the increase because it "the public to know all the things that we've been doing to maintain (the budget), reduce costs and expenditures in the district."
Martin read the following statement regarding the proposed budget:
"Joni McIntyre and I have been asked to provide some additional information to all of you about the financial picture for next year and the complexities that contribute to these projections.
"The committee wants our community to know that we constantly strive to find efficiencies and decreases in spending. Our budgeting procedures that focus on need rather than fixed amount per line items or annual allotments is utilized in the process.
"Through the bidding process we analyze the staff requests versus need and the current inventory before ordering additional supplies. We've also been able to minimize surprise expenditures through advance planning on a cycle of things such as curriculum, resources, classroom furniture and uniform replacements.
"Through position control measures we're seeking ways to reduce or repurpose staffing to meet current needs. Those needs change from year to year.
"Over the past 30 years public education has increasingly assumed roles associated with public services for students. We provide a wide range of services to our students through certified professional staff members such as crisis counselor, social workers, behavior specialists, school psychologists, security and school police officers. The need for specialized staff has been evident for several years.
"Programs for students after school and over the summer have also been added to support our students.
"Food insecurity became more apparent over the past few years. And through our breakfast and lunch programs there are no cost for students.
"With regards to personnel, there have been some decrease costs realized with the most recent negotiations and contract settlements. Savings have been realized with increase co-pay rates and spousal exclusion stipulations for new employees. These changes helped to offset the increased cost of healthcare coverages we see each year.
"We're constantly monitoring class sizes and seeking realistic reductions in staffing that will not have a negative impact in learning.
"Budget expenditures are directly impacted by cost. Adding new programs in our Career and Technical Center such as Education and Homeland Security are essential to address staff shortages and community needs in the local work force. However, adding programs adds costs.
"Our school board and administration has committed to adding additional students and staffing and safety equipment to address community needs. There are significant costs to these decisions.
"Inflation is having a significant impact on our district in operational costs such as supplies, electricity, gas, water, facility projects and maintenance. Recent energy savings projects by Keystone Central School District have been exceeding the guaranteed savings we were promised across all eight buildings where upgrades were done in 2020.
"Last year alone we saved almost $200,000 in measured savings. Which was $40,000 more than expected.
"We've identified over $60 million in facility needs that need to be realized over the next 10 years. We are using and seeking state and federal grant dollars for these projects. Some of the grants require matching funds. This budget proposals include over $2.2 million in grant matches from local sources to complete $18 million worth of projects.
"Our district revenues have been increasing due to tax collection efforts and investment strategies. Some additional dollars have been provided to our district from the most recent state level up funding formula.
"Federal dollars side of grant monies have remained relatively stagnant. As a disadvantaged rural district we are experiencing the same discrimination that was found to be unconstitutional with the most recent legal case on PA school funding. In that lawsuit the judge ruled that the Commonwealth must provide an equitable distribution of state resources.
"While this work has begun we will not likely any results in the next two years.
"School budgets are complex and involve a lot of moving parts. Next year's budget is approximately $6 million higher than last year but we have planned effectively to balance the budget by asking for only a partial tax increase that will generate less than $1 million in additional revenue.
"We do not believe that any singular expenditure is contributing to the need for a tax increase but rather a compilation of several factors.
"It is our responsibility to pass a respectfully balanced budget while meeting the needs of our students."
Board members Butch Knauff and Wayne Koch were absent from Thursday's work session, held in the board meeting room and available via Zoom.