Board Adopts Proposed Preliminary Budget With $11M Deficit

The Neshaminy School Board voted unanimously to adopt the proposed preliminary 2013-2013 budget of $156,121,340.

This proposed preliminary budget is characterized by a $11.8 million deficit.

The Act I allowable increase in taxes is 1.7 percent, or 2.5 mills, which would provide the district with more than $1.9 million if the board voted to raise taxes by that rate, according to district figures.

The current real estate tax bill at the average residential assessment of $27,587 is $4,193 for the year.

According to the district's acting Business Administrator, Barbara Markowitz, the proposed preliminary budget is "a starting point on a long road of approving a final budget in June" and that a lot of "fine tuning" to the budget will occur in the coming months.

"This is extremely early for preparing a budget," Markowitz said, adding that salaries, benefits and other budget items are still being reviewed.

The proposed preliminary budget, according to Markowitz, is based on the "best information" department heads have at this time.

Board President Ritchie Webb described the proposed preliminary budget as a "wish list budget."

"I would not support this, I don’t think anyone on the board would, but this is the first step in complying with Act I," Webb said of the proposed preliminary budget.

Webb stated that the proposed preliminary budget will be available for public review January 4, 2012.