RIDGWAY — The Ridgway Area School Board on Tuesday moved to put a proposed 2016-17 budget on display to the public for 30 days.
However, the school board passed an unbalanced budget for next year, with an estimated income of $12,832,331 against expenditures of $13,075,819. The tax rate increased a mill from 35.6 mills in 2015-16 to 36.6 mills next year for a 2.81 percent increase in the millage rate.
Business Manager Donna Sidelinger said the school district has approximately $4.6 million in budgetary reserves currently, and $1.5 million in the capital reserve fund. However, Sidelinger pointed out the district also has $1.5 million in pension expenses. She added the district will spend $272,000 on health insurance next year, and $297,000 in pension benefits as well.
Sidelinger said the district hit a financial low point in December, with only $900,000 in the general fund until the state’s 2015-16 budget finally passed in March. School board president Lisa Connelly added the school district currently has a four month reserve, and in the case of another state budget impasse, the district would need to start borrowing money after that reserve fund runs dry.
Connelly said the district was “lucky” it did not have to borrow any money during the recent state budget impasse. She estimated it takes approximately $1 million per month to run the district.
Former school director Bill Seely of Ridgway asked how much money is collected in taxes each year. Sidelinger replied approximately $3 million comes from tax money. Seely said with a budgetary reserve one and a half times the size of the annual tax revenue, the district should not be raising taxes.
The motion passed with a 6 to 2 vote with only Mike Gerg and Johna Holtz voting against. Seely noted this was the “quickest vote ever on an exorbitant budget.”
The final budget will be voted on in June.
Meanwhile, Seely, an outspoken advocate of consolidating the school districts in Johnsonburg, Ridgway and St. Marys, also reported asking the Johnsonburg Area School Board to reconsider consolidation at its last meeting. He said Johnsonburg board president Barbara Thorwart vehemently opposed the idea, and when he asked her to poll the rest of the school directors, she refused.
He also suggested since school buses are “half full” the district should consider consolidating bus service as well.
In other news, the school board recognized the students of the month. On the elementary level, Emma Baker and Seth Carberry, both fifth graders, received the honors. Baker said her favorite class is specials, and in particular physical education. She thinks Ridgway is special as the school district is “different than other districts,” and the borough is not “crazy like the big city.” Baker wants to be an electrician like her father or work in the Lego factory.
Carberry’s favorite subject is science, as he likes the experiments and learning about animals. He likes the teachers and all who help him, as well as lunch period. When Carberry grows up, he wants to be an adventurer. He also would like to go to Universal Studios someday. Principal Anne Herzing reported Carberry worked extra hard at his PSSA tests this year as well.
In the middle school, Paul Gresco, an eighth grader, was nominated by Pam Wagner. Gresco’s favorite teacher is math teacher Jennifer Olay. Olay said Gresco has “a promising future” and she cannot wait to see what he will accomplish in high school.
In the high school, Nate Porter garnered student of the month honors. Porter’s activities include the soccer team, Science Olympiad, and National Honor Society. His favorite teacher is French teacher Jacqueline Prugar. Prugar described Porter as “conscientious” with an “intellectual curiosity.” She describes Porter as a “prime example of a well rounded student.”
The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 14.
