2017-2018 BUDGET
FINAL REPORTS
HIGHLIGHTS
• No Millage Increase in Luzerne or Columbia County
• 11th consecutive year without an overall millage increase
• No academic programs reduced
• One instructional staff position reduced through attrition
• Fund balance maintained within BASD policy and PA Public School Code
• Lowest earned income tax in Columbia County
BUDGETARY CHALLENGES
• Increased PSERS contributions
• Increased medical costs
• Reduced # of retiring professional staff members
• Uncertain state and federal funding
• Final closeout of West Berwick Elementary project
CLASS SIZE AVERAGE
• Salem Elementary: 20.2
• Nescopeck Elementary: 18.1
• West Berwick Elementary: 20.5
• Berwick Middle School: 23.1
• Berwick Area High School: 20.2
• Note: This does not include specialty areas
KINDERGARTEN PROJECTIONS
• June 2017
• Salem – 64
• West Berwick – 70
• Nescopeck – 25
June 2016 – Actual (#)
Salem – 68 (82)
West Berwick – 82 (99)
Nescopeck – 32 (35)
FUND BALANCE
• Projected at 20% of budget – $11M
• Reduced from $20M+ through payments on building project and early
repayment of 2015 Note
• Committed to PSERS, medical and debt service - $6.5M
• Committed to construction, renovation - $1M
• Unrestricted - $3.5M
RECOMMENDED MILLAGE RATE
• Columbia County – Reduction of 1 mill
• Luzerne County – Reduction of .72
• Recommended in conduction with culmination of building project
• Allows for sufficient revenue to meet future challenges
• Follows elimination of “nuisance” taxes in 2016-17
COLUMBIA COUNTY TAX RATES
Benton
Property Tax
53.1446
Earned Income
1.1
Berwick
43.23
0.5
Bloomsburg
43.08
1.06
Central Columbia
43.104
1.05
Millville
47.70
1.2
Southern Columbia
48.02
1.5
:LUZERNE COUNTY TAX RATES
PROPERTY
EARNED INCOME
•
BERWICK
10.72
0.5
•
CRESTWOOD
9.8481
0.5
•
DALLAS
13.4323
0.5
•
HANOVER
17.5771
0.5
•
HAZLETON
9.857
1.0
•
LAKE-LEHMAN
10.6046
0.5
•
NANTICOKE
11.4974
0.5
•
*NORTHWEST
10.58
0.5
•
PITTSTON
14.9773
0.5
•
*WILKES BARRE 16.85
0.5
•
WYOMING AREA 15.9367
0.5
•
*WYOMING VW 15.45
0.5
FUTURE CHALLENGES
1) VO-TECH
• Anticipated request for building renovations
• Limited capacity for programming
• Berwick has had 347 students rejected for admission since 2004-2005
• Berwick has had 134 students with Special Needs rejected since 2004-2005
• Berwick will pay approximately 28% of any approved project at CMVT
• A project could be approved without a positive vote of the BASD Board
FUTURE CHALLENGES
2) BASD BUILDINGS
• Future of Nescopeck Elementary – 4 options presented in feasibility study
• Study will be posted on web site
• Public meetings will be held to discuss options
• Salem Elementary also needs to be a topic of discussion
• Possible demolition of Orange Street
• Interest is being expressed in 14th Street
FUTURE CHALLENGE
3) “VALLEY STUDENTS”
•
•
•
•
•
Potential decision on students from the “Valley”
Addition of approximately 1,400 students in grades K-12
Must be initiated by petition from residents of the area
Guided by PA School Code of 1949
Significant impact on revenue, expenditures, academic programs, staffing,
transportation, and extra/co-curricular programs
“VALLEY”
CONTINUED
• 1,400+ students impacted in 3 Townships/Boroughs
• Valley K-8 building and Hazelton Area High School impacted
• Valley 1008 students in grades K-8 - HASH 410 students in grades 9-12
• Impact on aid ratio - projected reduction from approximately .67 to .56
• HASD yearly revenue - $133,054,685
• HASD yearly expenditures - $138, 390,588
• HASD long-term debt - $134,821,939
BASD BUILDING CAPACITY
AND CURRENT ENROLLMENT
• Berwick Area High School – 1037+/715
• Berwick Middle School – 1140+/968
• Nescopeck Elementary – 352/181
• *Salem Elementary – 562+/383
• West Berwick Elementary – 750/553
• Source: 2012 Pennsylvania Department of Education approved feasibility study
• *Note: Head Start students at Salem Elementary are not included in this figure
DISTRICT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Bloomsburg University Science Iditarod – 1st place for Position Paper within
Security Council
• University of Scranton “Kane” Physics Competition – 1st Place of 31 Teams
• CSIU Regional Computer Fair – 2nd Place (Mallory Pinterich, Maddy Lanning)
• Region 2 National History Day – 1st place (Olivia Gomez)
• Luzerne County Council of Teachers – 1st place of 60 (Jacob Demler)
• PA Class AAA State Champion – Shot Put (Payden Montana)
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
CONTINUED
• Three BAHS swimmers qualify for states: Becca Decker, Sydney Lloyd and
Chris Michael
• Keystone Northeast Chapter Competition – 1st of 18
• College Board recognizes 27 BAHS students as AP Scholars
• 14th Street Elementary recognized as Title I School of Distinction
• Berwick Area High School is one of 13 public schools in Pennsylvania
nominated as a National Blue Ribbon School