Friday, May 30, 2008
More small district woes
School taxes could jump 14 percent
By CHRISTOPHER RUVO
The Intelligencer
Riegelsville taxpayers would pay 14.3 percent more in school property taxes under next year's proposed budget from the Easton Area School District.
The borough at the northeastern tip of Bucks County sends students across the county line to the school district in Northampton County, a situation some in the riverside enclave would like to change because of what they feel are high school taxes.
Under Easton's proposed $121.8 million 2008-09 budget, property owners in Riegelsville, which has 68 students in Easton schools, would pay a millage rate of 159.46 — a nearly 20 mill increase. That would result in a property tax bill of $3,827 for a home assessed at $24,000, up $479.
Homeowners approved to receive a property tax rebate through the state's gambling revenues would have $233 knocked off the 2008-09 bill, bringing the average bill down to $3,594.
A mill is a tax of $1 on every $1,000 of a property's assessed value.
If the same $24,000 Riegelsville home were in Palisades, the Upper Bucks school district that abuts Riegelsville, the owner would pay $2,400 under a proposed 2008-09 budget.
Qualified homeowners here would receive a rebate of $233 thanks to casino monies, knocking down the average bill to $2,167.
That's a big reason why the Riegelsville Tax and Education Coalition is pursuing transferring the borough's students to Palisades, despite two rulings that denied the move and opposition from some borough residents who wish to remain in Easton.
“The tax inequity issue is very critical,” said William Casey, a Doylestown lawyer representing the coalition as it pursues its case for secession from Easton before the Commonwealth Court.
Although a state school spending law, Act 1, caps Easton's allowed tax increase at 5.6 percent, the district has qualified for exceptions that allow the rate to jump well beyond that, said Jeffrey Bader, Easton's business manager.
Bader cautioned that the budget is preliminary and could be whittled down.
“We're always looking at getting down costs,” said Bader, who noted that everything from fixed expenses like salaries and fuel to rising special education costs is driving up spending.
Still, the Riegelsville coalition wants to become Palisades Pirates.
The group has argued that Riegelsville, which is surrounded by country townships, fits in better in the rural 2,100-student Palisades school district than the 9,000-student, urbanized Easton.
The town is contiguous with Palisades, but not with Easton, and has ties to the Upper Bucks communities that make up Palisades through the library, local sports leagues and emergency services.
Easton's final budget will have to be approved before June 30. It could be voted on at a special meeting scheduled for May 29.
High school students from Riegelsville have been attending Easton since 1932, when a school building in Durham became overcrowded. By 1965, the state consolidated school districts and all Riegelsville residents were attending Easton schools.
“It was a good thing for a long time. But now that Palisades is really going, it's time for the kids to go there,” said Casey.
By CHRISTOPHER RUVO
The Intelligencer
Riegelsville taxpayers would pay 14.3 percent more in school property taxes under next year's proposed budget from the Easton Area School District.
The borough at the northeastern tip of Bucks County sends students across the county line to the school district in Northampton County, a situation some in the riverside enclave would like to change because of what they feel are high school taxes.
Under Easton's proposed $121.8 million 2008-09 budget, property owners in Riegelsville, which has 68 students in Easton schools, would pay a millage rate of 159.46 — a nearly 20 mill increase. That would result in a property tax bill of $3,827 for a home assessed at $24,000, up $479.
Homeowners approved to receive a property tax rebate through the state's gambling revenues would have $233 knocked off the 2008-09 bill, bringing the average bill down to $3,594.
A mill is a tax of $1 on every $1,000 of a property's assessed value.
If the same $24,000 Riegelsville home were in Palisades, the Upper Bucks school district that abuts Riegelsville, the owner would pay $2,400 under a proposed 2008-09 budget.
Qualified homeowners here would receive a rebate of $233 thanks to casino monies, knocking down the average bill to $2,167.
That's a big reason why the Riegelsville Tax and Education Coalition is pursuing transferring the borough's students to Palisades, despite two rulings that denied the move and opposition from some borough residents who wish to remain in Easton.
“The tax inequity issue is very critical,” said William Casey, a Doylestown lawyer representing the coalition as it pursues its case for secession from Easton before the Commonwealth Court.
Although a state school spending law, Act 1, caps Easton's allowed tax increase at 5.6 percent, the district has qualified for exceptions that allow the rate to jump well beyond that, said Jeffrey Bader, Easton's business manager.
Bader cautioned that the budget is preliminary and could be whittled down.
“We're always looking at getting down costs,” said Bader, who noted that everything from fixed expenses like salaries and fuel to rising special education costs is driving up spending.
Still, the Riegelsville coalition wants to become Palisades Pirates.
The group has argued that Riegelsville, which is surrounded by country townships, fits in better in the rural 2,100-student Palisades school district than the 9,000-student, urbanized Easton.
The town is contiguous with Palisades, but not with Easton, and has ties to the Upper Bucks communities that make up Palisades through the library, local sports leagues and emergency services.
Easton's final budget will have to be approved before June 30. It could be voted on at a special meeting scheduled for May 29.
High school students from Riegelsville have been attending Easton since 1932, when a school building in Durham became overcrowded. By 1965, the state consolidated school districts and all Riegelsville residents were attending Easton schools.
“It was a good thing for a long time. But now that Palisades is really going, it's time for the kids to go there,” said Casey.
Hellmann Schools Death Plan
Here's the BCCT article on the Hellmann death plan for the schools.
For all of his deficiencies as a human being in general (supreme arrogance being the most glaring) the Emperor is not stupid. He can do this. Yes, I take back what I said yesterday after having some time to think about it. He has three solid puppet accomplices who would vote for anything as long as Hellmann wished it: Al Radosti, Marlys Mihok, and Brenda Worob. (Did you notice that is now the "leadership" on the board?) That's a 4-4 tie vote at best. The the fifth vote comes over the dead body of committed schools champion Ed Frankenfield. A reliable new toady will be appointed and the fait is truly accompli. Forget about (no direct disrespect to any of these four people, but it's the truth) the unsteady waffling of Bill Farrell and Gloria Heater. They are as irrelevant as Joe Kemp and Robin Reithmeyer, and if they happen to support the plan, that's just another vote in favor.
The teachers union negotiations will ultimately result in concessions of one sort or another that will begin to pave the road. Financing will appear. So will the buses to Pennsbury, Bristol, Council Rock, or even DVHS at the deep, deep discount Joe Kemp mentioned earlier.
It's only money. That's the only thing driving this latter day Scrooge-like board. There's no happy ending for Tiny Tim here. His special ed is being cut too. Paging the three ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future: Your table is ready. The Emperor is already seated.
The Emperor's vision for Morrisville was conceived during his long, long period of isolation as a rusting Tin Man longing for a heart. The difference here is that instead of journeying to see the Wizard and obtaining that heart, (or remixing my metaphors, being visited by the ghosts), he realized that rusting away in the field was his highest ambition, and he wants Oz-like Morrisville to rust right alongside him.
Give the Emperor his kudos. He's played his hand well and the public has played their role to perfection: They stayed home and did nothing. It's just about too late and we're watching the end of MHS. We're gathered at the bedside of the dying patient and we're waiting for five votes to pull the plug.
Beep....beep......beep..........beep.........................beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
Board president presents school consolidation plan
By MANASEE WAGH
The three public schools in the Morrisville School District could shrink to just one in the future.
School board President William Hellmann announced a three-pronged plan of how he would do that at Wednesday’s board meeting:
Grades nine through 12 would be absorbed by other districts
Renovate the existing high school
Transfer remaining grades — kindergarten through eighth now at two elementary schools — to the high school building.
“My overall theme is consolidation,” he said Thursday. “Instead of keeping three buildings, we consolidate into one.”
Hellmann unveiled his plan to much outcry from diehard community members who remained planted in their chairs past midnight.
Hellmann stressed that the idea was just a plan, and that it was up to the entire board to make a decision.
“I know some people don’t like the idea but tough choices have to be made,” he said Thursday. “These are my thoughts. I’m not telling everyone what to do. These are my recommendations.”
The former school board wanted to create a new $30 million consolidated school for the district’s approximately 1,000 students, a plan that would have raised taxes for several years. However, the current board nixed the idea on the promise to keep taxes low. It elected to return most of the remaining bond money the previous board had obtained for its merged schools plan.
Hellmann said his plan would use $7 million from capital reserve funds to renovate the high school.
“I want to center renovations on the high school. But it’s a very solid building. That building will be there after I’m gone. I cannot see knocking that down,” he said.
The new school board has been trying to figure out how to accomplish school renovations since the beginning of the year. There is no fixed plan in place, but the board accepted an engineering firm’s proposal Wednesday to provide bid specifications for electrical safety issues at the high school.
There are 273 students who attend ninth through 12th grade in the high school building this year. That’s not counting those who attend services outside the high school building.
Hellmann did not explain how sending students to other districts would work, adding he’s not sure how to implement all parts of his plan at the moment.
“Our No. 1 problem is teacher contracts. No. 2 is special education costs,” he said.
Teacher contracts are binding and can’t be altered without union approval.
“The only way is to bargain with them, but we’re not at that point yet. The problem is, the prior board approved contracts in February 2007. It was a very expensive contract. Prior board members didn’t anticipate the cost over the next several years. That’s the biggest problem,” Hellmann said.
An average teacher salary in Morrisville is about $70,000, according to the state Department of Education.
Next year’s budget calls for about $10 million in employee salaries and benefits.
Hellmann said rising special education costs are a problem, too, but the state mandates that districts pay for any necessary services. Hellmann didn’t describe his plan to reduce next year’s cost increase by about 30 percent. He said the board would stay within legal territory.
“This board is not going to do anything illegally. That’s guaranteed. That’s why we have a solicitor.”
The department of education said it would not comment on any district’s situation unless the board approves such changes.
On May 21, the board voted to consider a $19.7 million budget that’s about $250,000 short of the budget the administration recommended.
The lower budget would reduce necessary funds for incoming special education students, as well as money for students expected to attend charter and alternative schools.
Based on the number of students anticipated and their educational needs, the district is looking at a $2.1 million bill for special education services next year. The administration doesn’t have a choice in how much to pay for special education, said Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson at Wednesday’s meeting.
“Since December we’ve been looking at ways to cut costs without infringing on the needs of our children,” Yonson said Thursday.
Hellmann’s proposed cuts to the increase in special education expenses are about 30 percent. It would have been 40 percent, but the price for administrative services is lower than earlier thought, Yonson said.
Still, Kimberly Myers, supervisor of pupil personnel services, said she doesn’t see how the reduced budget could cover projected needs for special education requirements.
Hellmann thinks there’s a way to do it.
“My goal from the beginning was to provide an education for children that the town can afford. I’m trying to be reasonable. That’s it,” he said.
According to Yonson and Myers, the only way might be to reduce other expenditures.
“At this point, we’re hoping to convince the board not to do this. We are giving them a barebones budget,” Yonson said.
For all of his deficiencies as a human being in general (supreme arrogance being the most glaring) the Emperor is not stupid. He can do this. Yes, I take back what I said yesterday after having some time to think about it. He has three solid puppet accomplices who would vote for anything as long as Hellmann wished it: Al Radosti, Marlys Mihok, and Brenda Worob. (Did you notice that is now the "leadership" on the board?) That's a 4-4 tie vote at best. The the fifth vote comes over the dead body of committed schools champion Ed Frankenfield. A reliable new toady will be appointed and the fait is truly accompli. Forget about (no direct disrespect to any of these four people, but it's the truth) the unsteady waffling of Bill Farrell and Gloria Heater. They are as irrelevant as Joe Kemp and Robin Reithmeyer, and if they happen to support the plan, that's just another vote in favor.
The teachers union negotiations will ultimately result in concessions of one sort or another that will begin to pave the road. Financing will appear. So will the buses to Pennsbury, Bristol, Council Rock, or even DVHS at the deep, deep discount Joe Kemp mentioned earlier.
It's only money. That's the only thing driving this latter day Scrooge-like board. There's no happy ending for Tiny Tim here. His special ed is being cut too. Paging the three ghosts of Christmases past, present, and future: Your table is ready. The Emperor is already seated.
The Emperor's vision for Morrisville was conceived during his long, long period of isolation as a rusting Tin Man longing for a heart. The difference here is that instead of journeying to see the Wizard and obtaining that heart, (or remixing my metaphors, being visited by the ghosts), he realized that rusting away in the field was his highest ambition, and he wants Oz-like Morrisville to rust right alongside him.
Give the Emperor his kudos. He's played his hand well and the public has played their role to perfection: They stayed home and did nothing. It's just about too late and we're watching the end of MHS. We're gathered at the bedside of the dying patient and we're waiting for five votes to pull the plug.
Beep....beep......beep..........beep.........................beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
Board president presents school consolidation plan
By MANASEE WAGH
The three public schools in the Morrisville School District could shrink to just one in the future.
School board President William Hellmann announced a three-pronged plan of how he would do that at Wednesday’s board meeting:
Grades nine through 12 would be absorbed by other districts
Renovate the existing high school
Transfer remaining grades — kindergarten through eighth now at two elementary schools — to the high school building.
“My overall theme is consolidation,” he said Thursday. “Instead of keeping three buildings, we consolidate into one.”
Hellmann unveiled his plan to much outcry from diehard community members who remained planted in their chairs past midnight.
Hellmann stressed that the idea was just a plan, and that it was up to the entire board to make a decision.
“I know some people don’t like the idea but tough choices have to be made,” he said Thursday. “These are my thoughts. I’m not telling everyone what to do. These are my recommendations.”
The former school board wanted to create a new $30 million consolidated school for the district’s approximately 1,000 students, a plan that would have raised taxes for several years. However, the current board nixed the idea on the promise to keep taxes low. It elected to return most of the remaining bond money the previous board had obtained for its merged schools plan.
Hellmann said his plan would use $7 million from capital reserve funds to renovate the high school.
“I want to center renovations on the high school. But it’s a very solid building. That building will be there after I’m gone. I cannot see knocking that down,” he said.
The new school board has been trying to figure out how to accomplish school renovations since the beginning of the year. There is no fixed plan in place, but the board accepted an engineering firm’s proposal Wednesday to provide bid specifications for electrical safety issues at the high school.
There are 273 students who attend ninth through 12th grade in the high school building this year. That’s not counting those who attend services outside the high school building.
Hellmann did not explain how sending students to other districts would work, adding he’s not sure how to implement all parts of his plan at the moment.
“Our No. 1 problem is teacher contracts. No. 2 is special education costs,” he said.
Teacher contracts are binding and can’t be altered without union approval.
“The only way is to bargain with them, but we’re not at that point yet. The problem is, the prior board approved contracts in February 2007. It was a very expensive contract. Prior board members didn’t anticipate the cost over the next several years. That’s the biggest problem,” Hellmann said.
An average teacher salary in Morrisville is about $70,000, according to the state Department of Education.
Next year’s budget calls for about $10 million in employee salaries and benefits.
Hellmann said rising special education costs are a problem, too, but the state mandates that districts pay for any necessary services. Hellmann didn’t describe his plan to reduce next year’s cost increase by about 30 percent. He said the board would stay within legal territory.
“This board is not going to do anything illegally. That’s guaranteed. That’s why we have a solicitor.”
The department of education said it would not comment on any district’s situation unless the board approves such changes.
On May 21, the board voted to consider a $19.7 million budget that’s about $250,000 short of the budget the administration recommended.
The lower budget would reduce necessary funds for incoming special education students, as well as money for students expected to attend charter and alternative schools.
Based on the number of students anticipated and their educational needs, the district is looking at a $2.1 million bill for special education services next year. The administration doesn’t have a choice in how much to pay for special education, said Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson at Wednesday’s meeting.
“Since December we’ve been looking at ways to cut costs without infringing on the needs of our children,” Yonson said Thursday.
Hellmann’s proposed cuts to the increase in special education expenses are about 30 percent. It would have been 40 percent, but the price for administrative services is lower than earlier thought, Yonson said.
Still, Kimberly Myers, supervisor of pupil personnel services, said she doesn’t see how the reduced budget could cover projected needs for special education requirements.
Hellmann thinks there’s a way to do it.
“My goal from the beginning was to provide an education for children that the town can afford. I’m trying to be reasonable. That’s it,” he said.
According to Yonson and Myers, the only way might be to reduce other expenditures.
“At this point, we’re hoping to convince the board not to do this. We are giving them a barebones budget,” Yonson said.
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