Haverford School Board Approves Proposed Final Budget
If the final budget passes next month, each homeowner will pay about $114 more per year is taxes.
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The Haverford Township Board of School Directors on Thursday night unanimously approved the school district’s 2012-2013 proposed final budget, which includes a 2.73 percent property tax increase.
“Just so the public understands, this is just the proposed final budget,” said School Board President Denis Gray. “It is not the final budget, although it will look very close to it.”
The school board will vote on the final budget at its June 7 board meeting.
The proposed final budget which the school board approved on Thursday night calls for a 2.73 percent property tax increase, and projections of $92.8 million in total revenues, $94.2 million in total expenditures, and an ending fund balance of $1.3 million.
The budget projections were presented to the board by District Business Manager Richard Henderson last month.
School Board member Russell Bilotta said the proposed property tax increase is “very low” and amounts to $114 in additional taxes per household, per year.
“That comes down to $9.50 a month for those who pay their taxes through their mortgage,” Bilotta said.
The $114 tax increase is based on the township’s average residential property assessment of $161,045.
In commenting on how tax dollars are spent, school board member Joseph Martin referred to the more than 150 high school students who were recognized during the school board meeting for excellence in a variety of competitions, including robotics, science, journalism, music, business and world languages.
“The money is well spent … Our kids come out on top in so many ways … And this is what this money buys,” Martin said.
John Ryan
7:39 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
We could be talking about taking away the arts like UDSD. Hoping the infusion of commercial property taxes from the Quarry project and all of the new high dollar residences at the reserve will defer taxes in the future!
Jim
9:23 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
John are you being sarcastic, or do you do the Havertown Hustle too? If either one of the boards in Havertown make a smart move for the taxpayer, it will be shear luck. The Why, MM. CC.aye is a no earner and this new strip mall is just more garbage in.The quarry deal is just another excuse to do the Havertown Hustle.. Come on taxpayers of Haverford Township, "I promise this quarry deal is going to put us on solid ground",, Do the Havertown Hustle... bing bing bing bingbingbingbing bing bing bingbing do the hustle,,,,, the Havertown Hustle,,,, Come on Homie do the Hustle!!!!!
Not On My Street Scumbag
9:49 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
I certainly don't want to take valuable school programs away. However, if our elected officials really wanted to cut or level off taxes they could. The amount of wasted money in public works alone could go a long way. Do we really need trash to be picked up twice a week. Do we need as many cops on duty as there are. I'm all about safety, especially with UD next door. But how many times do you see these guys staring a their cell phone while parked in a lot. My point is if somebody had the stones to really look at this stuff changes could be made. Instead it's just statur quo.
Anthony Leone
10:06 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
Both the Haverford Township Board of Commissioners and the Haverford Township Board of School Directors are two separate entities. The school board has no say over the police department or the YMCA and the commissioners have no say regarding school taxes.
Take care,
Anthony
Brendan Kelly
9:49 am on Friday, May 4, 2012
"That comes down to $9.50 a month for those who pay their taxes through their mortgage". Sounds like a line a bad used car salesman used on me. "whats the final price of the car?", Salesman says "Your payments will only be 150 a month" Over 7 years. They should be doing what we are asking the president and congress to do, cut expenses. Find other areas in the township to make up the difference for the schools. knock back trash pickup to one day a week, why do we need 2 days a week trash pickup? that's just an example. But god forbid anyone think of things like that. Its so easy to raise taxes, the hard thing to do is cut expenses and it seems like the board doesn't want to do the hard things.
Jim
3:26 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
It all comes out of the same pocket. Time to start throwing the deck chairs overboard. 10 police officers first. Then thier motorcycles. Then Viola's second paid for S.U.V. Then the 500 thousand crime lab, A.K.A.the rust bucket. Then the patronage heavy, Brookline Fire Company. That just a start.
MJP
3:26 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
The question is how does HTSD accomplish raising revenue and trimming expenses? Less teachers? Less staff? Consolidate some elementary schools? Cut programs? Renegotiate with the union?
Hard decisions, especially considering H'burg's $810 million in cuts to K-12.
Jim
3:26 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
Who pay's Officer Rondalone. He is the full time police officer that is posted at the School. He can go. The another 75 thousand dollar luxary that the school or Haverford township can't pay.
MJP
3:52 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
I think the issue boils down to having to "pay the piper" as they say. Financial institutions run amok, with the governments blessing created this mess, like Reagan's "trickle down economics", it works both ways, good and bad. Years of overspending on dreams of tomorrow's revenue. Citizens, local, state and federal governments are all having to find it out the hard way.
Brendan Kelly
5:30 pm on Friday, May 4, 2012
I'm all for leaving the schools the way they are, but the township should recognize that school taxes are going up and start to bring down the local township taxes to offset the school taxes.