Monessen School Board still working to reduce proposed budget
MONESSEN – Monessen School Board on Tuesday tabled action on the preliminary budget for the 2017-18 school year, and also decided to retain its superintendent.
The board voted 6-0 to table action on the preliminary budget, detailing expenditures of $16,185,470, up from last year’s total of $14,983,315. Such an increase would likely carry a property tax hike, but business manager Jeff Festor could not provide a number because he said figures were still changing.
Festor said the increase was due to a rise in the district’s payment to the state pension system, along with salary and bond payment increases.
“(Pension) costs are going up for every district across the state,” he said. He said a roughly $750,000 increase in bond payments is also a major factor in the increase. He said the jump in the payment schedule happens to fall on this year’s budget.
Festor said cuts were made across the board and district officials have been looking for ways to increase revenue.
Festor said the board tabled the budget because members were not comfortable with what the property tax millage rate would be, and they want to continue working on it in order to be as accurate as possible.
He said they are “hopeful to get the millage rate down.” Festor said the millage rate “wasn’t fully determined” and they have been “changing it on a day-to-day basis.”
When asked by an audience member how the district could propose a budget containing increased spending without a tax increase, Board Vice President Roberta Bergstedt responded, “We are not ending up with it without a tax increase.”
Bergstedt said the board has been able to reduce the original proposed budget significantly. She said board members were not happy with the budget, and want to continue to work on it.
“We feel that more cuts can be made,” Bergstedt said. She said a special meeting to vote on the preliminary budget will be held at the end of May.
The board also notified Superintendent Dr. Leanne Spazak that its intends to retain her when her contract expires on Jan. 12. Spazak said the board will vote to renew her contract in January. Spazak thanked the board for its support, noting the district has gone through ups and downs but has done many positive things.
The board voted unanimously to approve the general fund budget for the Mon Valley Career and Technology Center for the 2017-2018 school year. Bergstedt said there is no increase in the 1.1 percent contribution index. Bergstedt said the CTC has done some things to streamline their budget and is looking for ways to raise revenue, including adding more school districts.
Festor said the district’s contribution to the CTC is roughly $200,000. Festor said this number could increase next year as enrollment numbers change. He said the contribution could also decrease if new districts join the CTC.
The board accepted the resignation of Michael Frederick as assistant baseball coach effective immediately. Gina Naccarato, director of athletics, said his resignation was due to a personnel issue and she could not offer further comment.