Parkland School Board granted unanimous approval June 24 to the $152.2 million budget for the 2014-15 term.

The action culminated nearly a year of work by Business Manager John Vignone and administrative staff studying sources of revenue and evaluating projected expenditures for the forthcoming term.

District Superintendent Richard Sniscak said a team including Vignone, Assistant Superintendent Rod Troutman, Director of Operations Tracy Smith and himself spent months brainstorming ideas to minimize the tax impact.

Through their efforts, the millage rate for 2014-15 will be 14.09, a 1.88-percent tax increase over the 13.83 millage rate of 2013-14.

Although the district would have been allowed a 2.1 percent increase in the state Department of Education Act 1 index, the final rate could be lowered due to positive trends in revenue.

Vignone said a 2.76-percent increase in district real estate, plus additional revenue from the earned income tax enabled reduction of the millage rate below the 14.12 allowed by Act 1.

At the 2014-15 rate of 14.09, the owner of a property assessed at $100,000 will pay $1,409 in real estate tax, a $26 increase over the previous year.

A median assessed property in the school district of $220,050 will have a tax of $3,128.68, a $57.73 increase over last year.

The owner of a $300,000 property will pay $4,227 in taxes, a $78 increase.

The property tax relief per homestead derived from gaming money will be $104.53. The amount will be deducted from the tax bill for residents who applied and were accepted into the program.

The budget includes $5.5 million from the fund balance to offset a larger tax increase, reducing the amount to $22.5 million.

At the time, Vignone noted uncertainty existed in Harrisburg over the governor's budget, which included $602,000 for Parkland in a Ready to Learn grant.

"We have included it in our budget," Vignone said. "If we don't get it, we'll have to make adjustments throughout the year."

He said the $152.2 million budget will fund contractual agreements with staff, insurance, mandated retirement system payments, professional and technical services, supplies from pencils to petroleum, facilities, transportation and more.

Sniscak reported ongoing concerns need to be addressed not only in this budget but as work soon gets underway for 2015-16.

"The cost to maintain our commitment to excellence is a constant challenge," Sniscak said.

Board member Jef Reyburn commented on the budget.

"We will continue to operate under the new normal," Reyburn said. "We're not going to return to the way things were before 2008."

"Our administrative team remains resolved in our effort to achieve the greatest return on our investment educationally and operationally even as challenges persist," Sniscak said. "The budget is a yearlong task. It touches a lot of hands. We try to do the best for everyone."