Pottsville Area board introduces budget with no tax increase expected

Apr. 16—POTTSVILLE — Thanks in part to federal coronavirus relief funding, a tax increase is not expected in the $42.7 million 2021-22 budget for the Pottsville Area School District.

Board members Wednesday night unanimously introduced the $42,783,777 budget and moved their next meeting from May 12 to May 19 to discuss it.

The current budget has a tax rate of 43.5319 mills, which translates to $37.42 for the average assessed property of $23,480. Last year's budget was $41,563,315 and included a 1.5 mill tax increase.

In a presentation at the meeting, Interim Business Manager Corinne Mason said local revenue is up by $703,000, with real estate taxes accounting for 61% of the local revenue, and state sources are up $258,000, with basic education subsidies making up 63% of the revenue. The revenue from federal sources is up by half a million dollars, with grants for COVID-19 relief accounting for 63% of the district's federal revenue.

On the state revenue side, the district is getting a boost from a $1 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant for repairs on the Martz Hall roof, steps and parking lot.

Mason said after using part of funds received under the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund for full-day kindergarten last year, the district will use the remaining $334,348 in this year's budget. Also included in the budget is $2.7 million from a second round of ESSER funds from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, of which $1.2 million is budgeted as revenue and for expenses. The interim business manager said officials are figuring out where to spend the remaining $1.4 million, but they have until September 2023 to spend it.

"As it is determined how the $1.4 million is spent, it will either be amended to the 2021-22 budget as we see fit or it will all be in the 2022-23 budget," Mason said.

The district is using $518,000 of the funding for virtual programs and $188,200 for technology, according to her presentation.

She said the $5.5 million the district received through the federal stimulus package passed in January is still being discussed and not in this year's budget, with district officials having until September 2024 to spend it.

School districts must use at least 20%, $1.1 million in the district's case, to address learning loss from the pandemic and support the "social, emotional and academic needs of underrepresented students," including students from low-income families, those with disabilities and English language learners. The rest can be used for professional training, technology, cleaning supplies, summer and after-school programs, mental health services and other expenses.

On the expense side, Mason said salaries and benefits are down for the upcoming year, due to negotiations and restructuring of health care, with no changes in staffing expected. The cost for supplies were down, she said.

Expenditures increased by $2.6 million, with $1.2 million added to this year's budget for construction.

Mason said the district can expect a $1.3 million fund balance.

'Pay to participate' fee OK'd

In other business, the board:

—Accepted a $25,000 sponsorship check from St. Luke's University Health Network for athletic capital improvements.

—Voted 8-1 for a one-time "pay to participate" extracurricular activity fee of $50 for Pottsville Area High School students and $25 for students in grades 7 and 8, which covers all extracurricular activities a student participates in during the school year, with board member Pat Moran voting no.

—Approved repository sales for properties at 391 Hotel St., Pottsville, with the purchase price being $1,486, and at 344 North St., also in Pottsville, with a purchase price of $1,166.

—Approved a summer cleaning program for schools and offices in the district that will be funded through ESSER II funding.

—Agreed to insert $54,546 in revenue from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund into the current budget.

—Approved a one-year dual enrollment between the district and Lehigh Carbon Community College from July 1 through July 31, 2022.

Acting Superintendent Jared Gerace said district officials are exploring a partnership with Rite Aid and Community Charities for a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for the public at Martz Hall. They had previously been in touch with St. Luke's about the idea but the plan didn't materialize.

Contact the writer: clee@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6028; @Cleespot on Twitter