In accordance with State law, the School District passed their FY16 budget last night, but Board Members held little hope that the $165.6 million package will stand…
Castimore: “Well it’s not like we have a choice, but it is very frustrating that we have to pass our budget before the Borough gives us a firm commitment or the state gives us a firm commitment. It’s like an exercise in futility. We always pass at least one more, if not two more budgets.”
Board Member Dan Castimore said there’ll likely be another budget after the state locks in its education and another in the summer after the Borough passes theirs.
One change making the District nervous this year: the State is considering a $200 drop in the Base Student Allocation rate.
Board President Joe Arness said that would also affect Borough funding…
Arness: “The amount of money that the Borough is allowed to provide to the School District, the “cap,” is based upon the per student allocation, the BSA. If you drop that BSA then by definition that drops the amount that the Borough can provide.”
The Governor has also proposed cutting the one-time funding approved by the Legislature last year. The cuts would slice $8 million from the District’s projected funding, the equivalent of 100 jobs.