Parkland School District Business Manager John Vignone has reported the gap between revenue and expenditures in the proposed 2019-20 budget was lowered from $8.99 million to $5.99 million since his previous statement in January.

Vignone said during the Feb. 19 school board meeting, the district can project about a $2 million increase over the previous amount from real estate revenue, earned income tax and interest.

On the expenditures side, Vignone said retirements of long-term employees announced in January will yield savings through attrition.

New employees, just starting on the salary scale, receive a lower wage than those who have years of experience and advanced education credits.

Vignone noted the medical consortium to which the school district belongs brings some savings as the risk is distributed over a large number of subscribers.

He said the district started planning financially for the new elementary school set to open in 2020 two years ago to avoid having a massive impact on the budget all at once.

“When you plan ahead, good things happen,” Vignone said. “Our 2017-22 plan is starting to fall into place.”

The proposed 2019-20 budget currently stands at $186.6 million in expenditures and $180.6 million in projected revenues.

In other financial matters, the board approved purchase of three 72-passenger buses from Wolfington Body Company at a total cost of $275,971.

They also approved acquisition of a new, single-axle dump truck from Lowe and Moyer Garage, Fogelsville, at $155,595 and the purchase of a new Case backhoe from Powerco Inc., Allentown, at $92,875.

The buses, truck and backhoe will be paid from the capital projects fund.