Phoenixville Area School District Passes Preliminary Budget

In a move regarded by several board members as just moving the process along in accordance with the state’s Act 1, Phoenixville Area School District approved its preliminary budget Thursday.

The $78.3 million preliminary budget includes a 4.43 percent hike in real estate taxes. Board President Paul Slaninka voted against the preliminary budget, which passed 6-1. Members Daniel Cushing and David Ziev were absent.

“It’s a preliminary budget, and we are working to bring it down,” said Board Member Betsy Ruch. “But by law, we have to pass the preliminary budget before a certain date, and it really doesn’t matter what it is.”

As part of Act 1, districts must prepare and submit a preliminary budget by Feb. 16.  Between now and May 19, when the board plans final budget adoption, the revenue and expenditure picture will become clearer, and changes are likely to be made.

To keep within the Act 1 index, which has dropped this year to 1.4 percent, the district needs to get the increase below that amount. Additionally, the district can apply for certain exceptions that would raise the index and allow for a higher tax increase than 1.4 percent.

“Every time we’ve had a preliminary budget, we have gone under the index,” Slaninka said.

He voted against the preliminary budget because of the 4.43 percent increase it contained.

“In all good conscience, I cannot vote for this preliminary budget,” Slaninka said.

He added that his vote was to send a message to Superintendent Dr. Alan Fegley and his staff to work to get the tax increase down. Slaninka said in these economic times, the taxpayers couldn’t afford a tax increase.

The district is holding several public meetings to discuss the budget. The next will be held Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. in the high school library. To see the preliminary budget or a presentation shown on it, visit the school district’s business office page.