Schools
North Penn Toying With 3.8% Property Tax Increase in 2014
Jennifer Lawson of The Reporter reports that the district must find a way to make up for a $10 million budget gap, and may petition the state to allow them to go above the Act 1 1.7 percent cap on tax increases
Jennifer Lawson of The Reporter reports that North Penn School District is eyeing a 3.8 percent property tax increase in 2014, in order to close as much as a $10 million projected budget gap.
In doing so, the district may have to apply for an exception with the Department of Education to allow more than the 1.7 percent cap on a tax increase set by Act 1 of Pennsylvania.
District Business Administration Director Bob Schoch told the school board this week that the district implemented $20 million in budget balancing initiatives since 2010, which were one-time options.
Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Futhermore, the three charter school applications under consideration could impact the budget by as much as $7 million, Lawson reported.
One way the district could bring in more revenue and reduce spending is reverse the property tax assessment appeals, garnering about $750,000, according to the report.
Find out what's happening in Montgomeryville-Lansdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The district could also continue with not filling 108 vacancies throughout the district, saving $5.8 million, according to the article. Secondary-level teaching positions make up about 8 percent of those 108 vacancies.
Read more on the district’s tax plans at this link at The Reporter Online.
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