By SUSAN RUMBLE

Special to The Press

Parkland School District Director of Business Administration Leslie Frisbie provided a preliminary view of the proposed 2022-23 budget at a recent meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee.

The document indicates $214.5 million in estimated expenditures, a 6.7-percent increase over the previous term.

Without a millage increase, anticipated revenues are $208.1 million, a 5.9-percent increase over the former budget, resulting in a $6.4-million deficit.

At the Dec. 18, 2021, meeting, the board voted not to exceed the 3.4 percent Act 1 Base Index determined for the district by the Pennsylvania Department of Education for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

The 3.4 percent Index allows an increase of 0.5341 mills which would generate $4.55 million in additional revenue toward the overall budget.

Under the 3.4 percent Index, the tax rate would increase from the present 15.71 mills to 16.2441 mills.

For the average taxpayer, the impact would be a $117.50 increase.

Frisbie noted the 3.4 percent Index represents the maximum allowable tax increase without going to voter referendum and does not reflect the recommendation for a tax increase.

In recent years, the district mitigated the tax increase by applying an appropriation from the fund balance. Frisbie’s budget summary includes the use of fund balance to lower the gap between revenues and expenditures to $1.9 million.

Frisbie’s recommendation for continued budget planning includes looking at possible increases in revenue while targeting reduction of expenditures to close the budget deficit.

She said real estate assessment growth is trending very positive as a source of revenue increase, and the district will probably yield some attritional savings on retirements.

The business manager listed areas of focus which could affect the budget.

These include cyber-charter school tuition payments, bid pricing of heating oil and diesel fuel, capital reserve transfers, and equipment replacements.

The use of federal ESSER COVID-19 grant funds may be helpful in covering some large costs which would have had to come out of the district funds.

Frisbie stated the administration will continue the budget planning process and provide updates to the board.

The annual budget seminar is scheduled for April 29.