UDSD 2012-12 Budget Still $465,000 in the Red

The Upper Dublin School Board took a look at the 2012-13 budget on Monday night during the .

Much of the discussion compared the adjustments made since the as well as comparing the 2012-13 budget to the 2011-12 budget.

Brenda Bray, Business Administrator for the District, said, “Budgets are becoming more and more difficult.” She added that the 2012-13 budget is still a work in progress.

Bray was optimistic that the Earned Income Tax revenue in the district has remained stable over the past two years. However, revenue from real estate taxes and real estate transfer taxes have both decreased during the current year and are expected to do the same next year and will affect the 2012-13 school district budget.

The district expects to save $240,000 by joining the health care consortium. However, Bray said more districts are joining the consortium and that number could be on the conservative side.

One of the substantial cuts over the past number of years has been to facilities and grounds. The 2012-13 school year will be no different for Upper Dublin facilities; cuts have been made to facilities repairs and materials and facilities supplies. An additional $280,000 has been cut from the facilities budget in the 2012-13 budget.

Bray explained that the facilities budget includes things such as classroom supplies, books, music instrument repairs, field trips, etc. The cuts for next school year come from all buildings.

Bray also told the Board that there is no money budgeted for the budgetary reserves for the 2012-13 budget. “Right now we’re in a state of flux,” said Bray.

Board President Joseph Chmielewski said the board could put some funds into the budgetary reserves and at the end of the school year, the money simply falls back into the fund balance.

Budgetary reserves are typically set aside by districts in case of unforeseen expenditures during the year.

The budget is currently showing a $465,000 deficit as of early April.

Superintendent Michael Pladus said the .

School Board member Art Levinowitz, said, “I wish I could say ‘mostly good’…but it’s mostly bad [news].”

Upper Dublin School District 2012-13 Budget Timeline

April 23: Special Budget Meeting at 6 p.m.

May 7: Presentation of proposed final budget at 6 p.m.

May 14: Board to approve 2012-13 Proposed Final Budget at 7 p.m.

June 13: Board to adopt 2012-13 Final Budget at 7 p.m.