Apologize, for
DTSD Webinars: i'd like to call the March 2723 finance meeting to order apologize for starting a little late. We have a board member absence, and we were just waiting for a board quorum.
DTSD Webinars: We'll go around and do a roll call. I'm Kathy sicker. The treasurer, will go to my right. Stacy, Once a superintendent.
Go ahead.
DTSD Webinars: Josh Smith is an advisor. Sure, we're sell business manager. Tommy White, assistant business manager.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, thank you. And then I see, we have 2 citizen advisors online
DTSD Webinars: Brian
Brian Ostella: rhino as an advisor.
DTSD Webinars: Okay?
DTSD Webinars: And Phillips
DTSD Webinars: Oh, sorry. And then we have Michelle Ag board secretary. Anyone else.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, so
DTSD Webinars: all right. May I have a motion to approve them? Attached minutes from the last finance, meeting all those in favor say, aye, and all as opposed to now.
DTSD Webinars: hey? The minutes are approved. There's no one finished business, and we'll move on to the budget. Update. Mrs. Purcell.
DTSD Webinars: Okay. we we'll go through this. So I have some documents here just to bring everybody up to speed with what's happening in the State, and what we're kind of looking at internally as we've gone through our budget meetings, and and where we go from from here.
DTSD Webinars: The first document is Governor Shapiro gave his budget address the beginning of March. It was approximately a monthly. Usually this comes out the very first part of February, so his
DTSD Webinars: his his budget, was released. In. Like I said, the beginning of March I'll let me go back to 2223, as we all know, we finalized. Our budget with this is regarding just state funding basic and funding we
DTSD Webinars: did a 5% tax increase. So that landed us for basic education, Special LED, where you see it at 3.3,000,001.2 million roughly for basic at special it. And then you can see the Governor Wolf's budget. That was past the beginning of July gave us significantly more money, so we will see
DTSD Webinars: a significant amount of of revenue that we were not anticipating. In the 2223 school year Governor Shapiro comes along. His.
DTSD Webinars: His is but budget for education is even more robust than Governor Wolf, which no one anticipated. So you can see the numbers. Actually.
DTSD Webinars: if Governor Shapiro's budget were to pass today, we would actually end up with in basic LED with 21.7% more
DTSD Webinars: We were at our pas though this is White and I were at our Pasco Conference the a week or so ago, and I mean all the the the the pundits, the thinking now pretty much is, it will be an increase. We will see an increase. However, they do expect some shifts within line items, so that it might come out of the the general basic LED
DTSD Webinars: new new formula money and go to level ups, which is to try and help some of the you know the lower wealth schools. So while we do expect to see an increase, not sure how much so at this point my best guess. I'm looking at a 10%, you know, I think we we take the 10% we start there and and kind of watch it over the next couple of months. I think that's fair special. LED. I. I I leave that alone. We'll just. We'll build in what Governor Shapiro is estimating for those 2,
DTSD Webinars: if you room call it. Last year. Also that came what happened at July, August timeframe. The State released the school. Mental health and safety and security Grant that was the 306,235 all the way over. That was completely unknown out of the water. So we've got 2 years to spend that so we are
DTSD Webinars: spending approximately one half of it this year. Hopefully, we're buying the safety and security items, if we can. If not, we'll bump into next year. And then the as we've been discussing, we're adding a position for the mental health piece, the $153,000 that will take into revenue next year
DTSD Webinars: new though school based mental health.
DTSD Webinars: there is an allocation for us of 135,622. So all the schools are getting an allocation of this mental space school based mental health.
DTSD Webinars: You can anticipate what it's supposed to be used for. There is no guidance on it Yet at this point, so i'm
DTSD Webinars: time time time will tell us we'll keep moving on that. But I wanted to make you aware of of where things stand with the state
DTSD Webinars: Next, then, is it? It will go by your pack and all that. I might kind of go on a different order than some of the agendas.
DTSD Webinars: just to logically talk through some of the things with this that we need to talk about in the budget.
DTSD Webinars: Circling back, I did reach out to the county. I have not heard from them yet to get an updated tax role. So this still does have our 2223 tax role. I anticipate that we will get that. So as we go forward I'll, i'll up that because we did have growth. So you'll see that 2.1, 2 billiondollar number Our taxable base.
DTSD Webinars: I expect, is higher. I am very excited, though, because when I get the debut computer from the tax office it will be reside here, and we will have access to all the data whenever we want it. So right now, i'm kind of at the mercy of the county.
DTSD Webinars: So that's it again. This is just options. Base index is 4. Point one. We've been talking to the 1.1 point 9 is in there. That is the number. If we remember, back to the presentation by the conversation from Louber, Deli and Riemann James about looking at any large, significant 100 milliondollar project.
DTSD Webinars: that target number might be 1.9 again. That might be that might be high, you know. We might, wanna and we could kind of wiggle that around. But I wanted to keep that in there just so that we're we're thinking because the the the budget I i'm going to bring forward and and want to talk to everyone about is does include
DTSD Webinars: some, you know, very specialized cap funding set aside for an elementary project.
DTSD Webinars: Nothing new on this slide just other than the the tax options.
DTSD Webinars: Next is the cap plan, and I don't know if that's an order in the it. Okay, on the agenda.
DTSD Webinars: So kind of it brought this up a little bit, but we just
DTSD Webinars: met in in Gen. Services and went through the 2324 cap plan don't Want to spend a lot of time like as much as we did in general services, but wanted to make everyone aware. This is just a look at You know a revisit of what our 2223 cap plan was
DTSD Webinars: what we've accomplished, the paid to date and where things kind of stand, and then anything that needed to get bumped to 2324, and then there's some some new
DTSD Webinars: items on there that over the next couple of months, as we identify our architect as we get closer with the the bid proposal on the single remediation, and working with ratio. And Jim called well on the traffic studies, and all of those things will, and as well as to Hamel and
DTSD Webinars: Ted B. Doc, with Hammel architects. We're working with him on the concession stand and Granada reporting. So there's just some big ticket open project items that we really need to. You know we need some help from our
DTSD Webinars: oh contractors, you know, to to kind of help us
DTSD Webinars: determine what that those numbers might be. The numbers that were on here that I bumped out the 2,324 were numbers. They had projected a year ago. So obviously things change projects change, so we'll be working with them. We'll bring this forward in May to Jen services again. And hopefully, a little more pinned down, and then bring forward to
DTSD Webinars: full board for vote in June.
DTSD Webinars: So, as we go, if anybody you know next next next couple of months or anything. We'll keep talking about those projects. Miss Priscilla, When you were talking about the you have the normal allocated transfer in here to the c. One
DTSD Webinars: isn't it important for us to maintain our normal transfer to the Cat Fund, so that we maintain our highest bond rating, since we're going into bonding soon. Thank you. Yes, Russian through, and I did. I didn't circle back. So on the bottom of page 2 I did a update the bottom. So the capital reserve balance 6, 3, 22. That's the audit of balance. So we know we've got a good starting number if you know the the expenses is about 1.1 million.
DTSD Webinars: There you go, 1.1 million, and then we do have the transfer in from Cap funds. So this year should keep us pretty flush as of as of now a 1 million in, and that's kind of typical that that's why we we make that Generals
DTSD Webinars: general fund transfer of a 1 million dollars thinking a lot of times. We have a 1 million dollars of projects. That kind of keep that balance
DTSD Webinars: whole in in Cap Reserve, which is important as we go forward, and then taking that forward, then to 2324, what that might look like if those numbers holding and we will work on those. But what we need to start talking about, and why that 1.9 was was important from the last page. 1.9%
DTSD Webinars: given. This tax role gives us about $767,000 extra revenue. So if we, if we start thinking about that, so this 750 is just a
DTSD Webinars: an extra on top of transfer to Cap Reserve that is strictly set aside to start getting us ready for debt service that we would need to take on
DTSD Webinars: doing a new project.
DTSD Webinars: And thank you. And one other question I had is some of these things
DTSD Webinars: that are on here for 2324 are not gonna actually come out of the balance
DTSD Webinars: of the capital fund because it has to do with the County Grant. Correct.
DTSD Webinars: We'll have to look at that once we get an updated. You're right. Once we get the Storm Water Basin, so what that was estimated at 2 50.
DTSD Webinars: The total Grant was 250. I don't remember how much we allocated to that portion of the county money we're gonna have to kind of work that out. County money has to come in through Gen. Fund. We can't.
DTSD Webinars: so we'll have to invoice and get reimburse, so I've got to look at what that number. Looks like you're right. So there, there piece of that particular line item will be. I just want to clarify that it's the parking lots or the parking lot, not the stormwater.
DTSD Webinars: We went back before the different things. Thank you. So you even so. There's so. There's dollars on here for the parking lot, so we'll once we know what that number is, and I've got to go back to the Grant and identify how much.
DTSD Webinars: because we use it for a lot of other odds and ends things, too. So this
DTSD Webinars: but thank you. So that's
DTSD Webinars: just why I wanted to keep an eye on that, and I I do want to keep having that conversation, and as we go through Budget as to how we fund cap this capital project.
DTSD Webinars: the next. The next sheet, then, is a revenues, and this is the typical that the revenue spreadsheet that is, in your monthly packet. But what is on here is that it's proposed final as we work towards that. It's still at work and process as it is today at 3, 27.
DTSD Webinars: But I went through
DTSD Webinars: and identified. Now you'll see in here and again. This is a starting point in the conversation to get to a balanced budget which we'll see later, and there's there's still a lot of moving parts. It's a 3. I want to at least commit a 1.9, or some amount from a tax increase
DTSD Webinars: that we set aside automatically for build. And then what do we need the rest of it? Just to balance our day to day operational budget. So that's again just a starting point.
DTSD Webinars: You'll see things like as part of the conversation, too. At this, you know, with the State and with our with our colleagues.
DTSD Webinars: we'll see significant increase in interest income. However, we will see significant decreases in transfer taxes and things. You know it's it gets. You get the revenue in one place, and you kind of lose it a little bit in another. But we are very happy for the interest income, because that is doing very well right now.
DTSD Webinars: So that's the the the highlight. I mean, the biggest things are in our local. Everything else is trending is the budget right now, and we'll keep looking at it year to date, and watching, you know, watching the trends.
DTSD Webinars: and see if those numbers should go up at all. But I,
DTSD Webinars: that's pretty much what our local revenues will look like state. Again, I did build in the 10 for a basic LED,
DTSD Webinars: and this by the special education. 4.5%, as indicated by Governor Shapiro!
DTSD Webinars: There's not a whole lot. I did put the 1 35, 622 in there so that's that's if we need to figure that piece out that new, that new mental
DTSD Webinars: mental health based I can't say.
DTSD Webinars: School based mental Health
DTSD Webinars: Grant. Thank you.
DTSD Webinars: There's nothing else new from the State level that we haven't talked about. Everything else holds flat.
DTSD Webinars: We still have, as we recall, one more year round of this other half of the arp ester, which was s or 3. So we have 2 point, one
DTSD Webinars: or 2.2 roughly 1 million dollars left on that. Grant that we will use in the 2324 budget.
DTSD Webinars: The other piece that we'll keep an eye on. I don't know yet. The the permanent fund transfers. That is, the Milton Hershey trust number
DTSD Webinars: so that 1.7 million. I did hear from Sherry Leo. We will have a number soon, but there's still there's still some time till she can finalize that number. She says right now. Actually, she thinks she's probably around 1.8, but the markets are in flux right now because of the tax, the an interest rate hike last week.
DTSD Webinars: so I just put 1.7. That number could go to 1.8. We'll get a firm number from her once, and I believe it's the end of this month, and then they can lock it down.
DTSD Webinars: Is there any questions on on? From a. From a revenue standpoint.
DTSD Webinars: I think I don't think there's any questions.
DTSD Webinars: So the next sheet, then, is the preliminary budget expenses.
DTSD Webinars: Now I had shared. She gets this up.
DTSD Webinars: I requested votes.
DTSD Webinars: Yeah, that's it.
DTSD Webinars: So we had looked at this last month, and we so they requested call on.
DTSD Webinars: Since then we've had budget meetings, and we've had conversations about ends and outs.
DTSD Webinars: And as we talked, so now the next column is the Revised, as of of today, based on the ins and outs of our conversations.
DTSD Webinars: so you can see
DTSD Webinars: so the far the far left column. The changes from the request to 2324 budget.
DTSD Webinars: I hadn't done any any work on salary benefit prior to to this. But if you just look at the superintendent down through the fund, the the transfers, the cap reserve.
DTSD Webinars: those are the conversations that we had. So those those are the pieces that have moved based on conversations. I still think there's conversations to be. Have we're waiting for some answers on some
DTSD Webinars: questions and things. We wanted to look into some contracts that needed to be
DTSD Webinars: kind of work through or vetted to determine if we're leaving them in pulling them out. How we're handling some things
DTSD Webinars: the line item for tuition. I did not make a change to that. As As I said. I think we're still kind of on par with with being okay with our budget this year. I don't want to pull that number down just yet. I'd rather let that go another month or so. Make sure our our enrollment with Charter schools is holding.
DTSD Webinars: But I think that'll be. That'll be a good man a a good number.
DTSD Webinars: So what we need to look at to and here is the again
DTSD Webinars: a special line item, just for the fund. Transfer the 7, 50 to to capital reserve. and then the 1 million to capital reserve.
DTSD Webinars: We will also need to. In April we will hear from Mr. Greg Hummel, with a food service update. We'll take a look at his
DTSD Webinars: year to date operations and budget plans for 2324, that 150,000. We've been doing that, but that will be a conversation for the Board, the committee, and the Board ultimately in the final budget. How we feel if we need to continue to do that $150,000 plan transfer.
DTSD Webinars: I'm being optimistic that Food Service is looking good.
DTSD Webinars: Are there questions on this again? I do know, and I will. So salary and benefits. I did want to talk a little bit about that. So right now Hr. Department Office is still working on the position budget.
DTSD Webinars: So right now, this is a percent increase in that 4 point. One is basically a blend up. So our Aa contract next year is a 3.9.
DTSD Webinars: Our act 93 is 3.7, 5, and Hesper group is 2.5.
DTSD Webinars: So. But since there's such a small amount. and the the 4. You see the 4.1, and only because there's some extra hours that go into it, too, so that bumps up the overall percent increase
DTSD Webinars: from a benefit standpoint. We met with Aia, who is our
DTSD Webinars: health care consultants, and for the april meeting I want to take a little closer in-depth look, and when we have more time I just thought that would be better just to carve out salary benefits and take a look at the benefit structure.
DTSD Webinars: We are actually less than last, if you remember last year they they increase with 12. We're coming in a little bit lower, so we're still up but 7.7 is the anticipated increase for next year.
DTSD Webinars: They also want. We have a meeting schedule with them the middle of April, to to go ahead and
DTSD Webinars: firm up those numbers, but they want another month of claims. They, because more claims data, they have the better the projection is. So, whatever they need to do is so we'll we'll get that. But as of right now it's 7.7, and historically we had been at like 5% average per year. So 7 and a half percent is a lot better than 12.
DTSD Webinars: Yes, so we it was. Still, there's still some things happening out there that they are driving the numbers, but it's yes, it's it's better.
DTSD Webinars: So we're working on that with the renewals, too, and you know we're looking at the cost of our fees and things like that. So we're. We expect them to come back with some contracts in April.
DTSD Webinars: Oh, the other piece of benefits that is interesting. And I know we've heard. So the peasers employer contribution rate for 2223 is 35.2, 6. It's actually going down to 34% next year. So that's
DTSD Webinars: little bit of money back in the budget. So even though our salaries go up at least the peers raised a little bit less, so we'll, we'll see where that that lands us, but the first year
DTSD Webinars: forever that it didn't go up, it's come down.
DTSD Webinars: so now we will see increases. The projections after this are to go up again. But there they are. Small increases over time.
DTSD Webinars: Is there anything
DTSD Webinars: that's right? So on the next page I did want you to see, though, and I know is you had to ask about looking at departments.
DTSD Webinars: There's some limitations with this, software because i'm missing some parts of the account code. So you can see if we look at this sheet.
DTSD Webinars: This really is the department structure that's built that we have built in. So we do have a as a part of the code inside of our software that we use for departments.
DTSD Webinars: But you can also see district wide. There's 60 million that I can't identify into a department, or you know that I want to get a little bit.
DTSD Webinars: I we we need to do something with our account structure within our the software that we use e finance.
DTSD Webinars: But this gives you an idea anyway of the now this is down by. So if you look at the sheet that we were just looking at it, you could see it by building. If you look here, you can see then by department, you know, math or
DTSD Webinars: all. All the things are sort of in compass that are that are departmentally driven. And then one of our goals is really to work on that top line, that district wide and and
DTSD Webinars: somehow pair that down into departments, so that we can even get a better handle on where things are going.
DTSD Webinars: But this from a curricular standpoint. So at least in the buildings from a curriculum standpoint, they use a and athletics. You see the teams
DTSD Webinars: and get some idea of department spending that way from a from a curricular standpoint.
DTSD Webinars: So I think that's probably one of the questions that I have is looking at on the preliminary budget like
DTSD Webinars: It's always interesting to see what was in the budget previously. Kind of what's been spent. Year to date is there additional money, you know, in the in the budget that Aren't really necessary.
DTSD Webinars: But understanding the increases. So, seeing, like a 42.8 projected increase in athletics. but makes that up when you see
DTSD Webinars: a 36% decrease in curriculum like, so it
DTSD Webinars: where I was going with that last time is more, what's being maybe requested. That is being determined.
DTSD Webinars: Hmm. Is a want to person need, or you know what's kind of being taken out, and one of the reasons I asked. That is, in previous years, when we were coming back from especially the immediate Covid Covid Budget. It was in this committee that we started asking questions because things like
DTSD Webinars: Kembroke Field trip had been taken out of the budget, and we really don't see it at that granular level to understand what is not part of it, and where we're moving things around.
DTSD Webinars: I I think I can say from well.
DTSD Webinars: anything this committee would be worried about out is in. So
DTSD Webinars: the conversation we had. All the field trips are back. Everything is is fully funded from a we did it that has not been.
DTSD Webinars: We didn't even look at those line items at at all, I can tell you, from an athletics. The big drivers on the athletics are $50,000. We need
DTSD Webinars: wrestling mats
DTSD Webinars: and about a $20,000
DTSD Webinars: scoreboard.
DTSD Webinars: So those are the 2 big and like. There's a a $50,000 increase in the drear contract, and that is one thing that we're waiting for some more details. On
DTSD Webinars: adding a second trainer
DTSD Webinars: that's been requested some information to come. I think that's going to go to the Athletics Committee in April.
DTSD Webinars: And you can also see
DTSD Webinars: technology.
DTSD Webinars: Yeah, tech, I mean, technology is, I mean, why you see that that increase that is an increase which
DTSD Webinars: and some of the others are down. We moved all software to technology just because they really should be betting it. They want to make sure it works with our software. This kind of keeps everyone from just going out and
DTSD Webinars: buying software and asking tech to then maintain it.
DTSD Webinars: So we've made moved all software. The other piece of that there used to be a lot of maintenance kinds of technology that they, the
DTSD Webinars: wireless connections and things like that that were actually purchased at a cap reserve that can't be purchased out of Cap reserve. So all that ancillary ongoing repairs and maintenance has been moved back to general Fund.
DTSD Webinars: So this is Mike Rizzo. That'll be a one time move, though correct, I mean, obviously, if we add new capabilities that will be there. But this is
DTSD Webinars: collectively
DTSD Webinars: clean it up and move it to technology. And is that something similar to it happened to buildings and grounds as well.
DTSD Webinars: Buildings and grounds
DTSD Webinars: is a lot of that being driven right now is the increase in utilities.
DTSD Webinars: so that that's a big one.
DTSD Webinars: There's also some open questions. We're waiting for some answers back on some areas of that that that potentially can come down. So as we as we move forward, I want to make sure we're all comfortable with what? What's being planned
DTSD Webinars: in in that area.
DTSD Webinars: There are some
DTSD Webinars: planned cyclical kinds of repairs and maintenance, painting, carpeting things that haven't been done for your few years. That's not being built into, you know. We've asked that that gets built into Ca into the budget, and that's not a capital reserve thing, because that's just ongoing maintenance.
DTSD Webinars: But there's a cycle of you know X number of rooms per building per summer that just get addressed so that we get back to that normal cycle. I think that kind of slipped off to.
DTSD Webinars: So in this budget things so, for example, last year in the Middle School, we did the sound or lighting, you know, or one of those, and it was part of the capital plan. But I don't recall that the Middle School budget was inflated.
DTSD Webinars: you know, or increased to account for that. How does like this? How to match your scoreboards fit into the athletic budget as a one time purchase. Item. So if you think about Cap reserve, capital reserve is items that significantly enhance and extend the life of an
DTSD Webinars: fixture and assets, so what there's mats are movable. The scoreboard is movable. The things like
DTSD Webinars: the auditorium. It's rewiring and reworking. So since you're really part of it in Yes, so that can be built in. So that's why.
DTSD Webinars: So now we'll we'll start to see like gators and trucks sending and cap reserve. We don't see them anymore. Now they're they're sitting over here. There is a truck, actually, that there's a that will not no longer pass inspection that we need to replace for for maintenance. And that's probably 50,000 that's in there. So instead of seeing that in Cap Reserve that's now general fun.
DTSD Webinars: So something
DTSD Webinars: you know, like what's inside of the the athletics increase like I know that there the Booster Club, I think, for wrestling is trying to to raise money towards that cost like it is the full cost of this
DTSD Webinars: inside of the budget I need to verify. I think they're looking for 3 mats, 2 at the High School, one at the Middle school, and the boosters are paying for one. So we're we're picking up the cost of of the other 2. Okay, yeah, I was just curious, like.
DTSD Webinars: since that's not a guaranteed amount if we're assuming a full amount. I did it budget. I think there would be conversation if they couldn't do it, that we would have to. I would expect that we need to, you know, revisit some other plans, and either decide
DTSD Webinars: not to do something else, perhaps, and and juggle some funds around that way.
DTSD Webinars: and his curriculum holding up like 70,000 coming out of the request. Is that holding off on something? Actually, there was a lot of extra hours that were in there that didn't need to be in there.
DTSD Webinars: that we should have been there in the request of Budget to start.
DTSD Webinars: That was salaries, right? Right? It was the yeah there was. Yeah, we usually do it in curriculum. We usually do a
DTSD Webinars: kind of estimate of like summer work salaries so that that can be at least accounted for. But it doesn't really go
DTSD Webinars: in the budget itself, because salaries don't go into departmental budgets. Okay. I yeah, I just left. I didn't catch it. And on that particular budget. So
thanks
DTSD Webinars: the other. So you'll see special education increase. Now, that's the combination of. We needed an
DTSD Webinars: an interpreter for deaf and hard of hearing, and the we brought in laurel life. The contract that will be a board approved for 338,000, but the flip side of that is. Then there are placements that we're not needed. So we have an offset, so it's actually
DTSD Webinars: better bottom line to the district to have those students back with this.
DTSD Webinars: So I do think so. What I really
DTSD Webinars: the conversation I need, the the guidance. The direction of the committee is so this is looking at a 3% tax increase.
DTSD Webinars: Still have some unanswered questions, things that we want to go back and and search for. But as we come forward into April, because then we turn around right. The first board meeting of May is the proposed final, which isn't the final. But it's the proposed final.
DTSD Webinars: so as far as the thought process on a tax increase, or where we're heading with that piece of building the budget that's that's that's crucial
DTSD Webinars: knowing. We go back and then take a harder line on some things based on You know the
DTSD Webinars: land where the board is going to land on. How do we feel about tax increase? What's the thoughts on carving out a piece of that tax increase specifically identifying it for for cap funding for the elementary project.
DTSD Webinars: And then how do we finance the rest of it?
DTSD Webinars: This is Kathy Sicker, I, you know, as part of the h a act 93, and hes but contracts that we negotiated, and
DTSD Webinars: we knew negotiating those contracts that they came with a tax increase. Possibly so
DTSD Webinars: I mean I I would like to see the continued work that you do as best you can to get closest to the least amount we can get to.
DTSD Webinars: but we have to build in the 1.9, so we can transfer the 750,000 to
DTSD Webinars: the elementary school. We have to do a 1 million dollar transfer to Cap. We have to keep our bond reading up. We have to keep our facilities up to date. If you can trim a little bit here and there. If you get more from the trust, you get more from the State, you get
DTSD Webinars: couple of things less. Maybe you could get it under 3. But
DTSD Webinars: no, that's what I was thinking.
DTSD Webinars: Yeah, now just remind me, the state budget since that was passed after
DTSD Webinars: our budget was passed last year there was obviously a significant increase that I think was close, like a 1 million dollars
DTSD Webinars: that wouldn't be reflected in our budget numbers for last year since that wasn't part of our budget. So, looking at it from a how do we build capacity? While also being mindful of expense.
DTSD Webinars: control and
DTSD Webinars: impact and taxpayer burden on there like
DTSD Webinars: those additional funds.
DTSD Webinars: Is that able to alleviate any of the need for the first, you know, year to start easing the community in, because I think, like we're starting. We're having these conversations and
DTSD Webinars: doing this, for on on the heels of a 4% last year. Is there a way to try and mitigate some of it right now
DTSD Webinars: to help people prepare financially for increases your over a year. As we look ahead to this big capital project
DTSD Webinars: we just want to clarify to to mean we 3, 4% tax increase. Last year we didn't have that
DTSD Webinars: 3.4, the 3.4 sorry.
DTSD Webinars: I think. Got all confused. Thank you. This year the
DTSD Webinars: act one indexes for right
DTSD Webinars: there's there's absolutely different ways we can. We can look at it. There's the 1 million. I think, to keep the focal point
DTSD Webinars: to get the community prepared. I think we keep the conversation, and at least identify that. We need an extra $750,000,
DTSD Webinars: and then do part of it. Do some tax increase to at least be able to fund that. So it shows
DTSD Webinars: we could show a negative that if they thought is coming out of this year that we we want to use the night the 1 million
DTSD Webinars: to go back and look at the fund balance just again going into
DTSD Webinars: a a ratings. I want, you know we do want to keep our our balance up now. We did put 3 million dollars in it from last year. As we get closer to your end, we'll be able to project a little bit better and make sure that
DTSD Webinars: the 1 million is gonna hold because we kind of had flat funded last year, you know, expected. So we'll see where we land
DTSD Webinars: That can definitely be part of the conversation, because I think that it's obviously an educational component of it right, like talking about the compounding increases, and how it builds that capacity for what? That service would be on a project like the elementary school.
DTSD Webinars: but also just being mindful like what that looks like financially, and
DTSD Webinars: you know where people are gonna start to feel it, you know. Unfortunately, in most situations, people don't dive deep into understanding. Why, the increase you just here 3.4% last year, 3 this year.
DTSD Webinars: without.
DTSD Webinars: you know, a a good understanding underneath it of what's inside of that, so that them when we're having conversations about
DTSD Webinars: a several 1 million dollars surplus at the end of it. After we've increased taxes May. Maybe it's a conversation. Maybe it's an education piece I just
DTSD Webinars: like last year.
DTSD Webinars: Alright. So we ended up having a surplus in the budget, and we had increased. You know taxes. I don't know that people always. I see. No, it goes together. You know what I mean it. Oh, it is! It's definitely a
DTSD Webinars: going to be an educational process, and that's what the you know, the architect that we land on there. Their role is going to be critical as we as we work through this, and
DTSD Webinars: just need to keep that in the forefront of everyone's mind that I I think we need to do some kind of a tax increase. Does it have to be 3? No, does it?
DTSD Webinars: Yeah. Do we look at the 1.9 or or adjusted down to at least at least be able to cover the the tax increase, knowing we might need to dip into the the extra 1 million dollars of State funding this year
DTSD Webinars: part of what we keep looking at. So so what i'm hearing
DTSD Webinars: and I knew going into this 3 was high. I was just again balancing the numbers that I had so
DTSD Webinars: 3% high. We'll keep working on it. We'll. We'll go back to some areas and see what we can do, and then see what we can bring down, and then see the the other piece of it. Then
DTSD Webinars: what part of fund balance from last year do we want to use to cover the gap?
DTSD Webinars: Because I do agree with what Mrs. Sicker said. I mean, we knew that the contracts
DTSD Webinars: for employees
DTSD Webinars: was going to mean a tax increase. It was the right thing to do.
DTSD Webinars: so I I don't hesitate on that. I just. I don't know what the number is that that feels right, and and trust your guidance. But.
DTSD Webinars: Mike, do you that's on it on the
Okay.
DTSD Webinars: Yeah, I mean. I it's. It is a hard conversation that you know. We we increased the taxes last year and had to.
DTSD Webinars: I had to surplus. But I understand the reasons behind that right. I think it's really about
DTSD Webinars: making sure everybody understands all of the components
DTSD Webinars: of what they're paying for, because it it will bring that
DTSD Webinars: that anxiety down a little bit. So it's just the fact how we do that. But I think we do need to kind of look at our spending and and make sure that we're not
DTSD Webinars: spending where we don't need to right, because that becomes a a hard conversation with the constituents.
DTSD Webinars: Is there anything else in the budget? I know we're we're short on time. I just wanted to give you time on the Dolphin County Tax school the the next page, though, on the surplus allocation. So I had
DTSD Webinars: I i'll let you take it. I had. There's a piece of there's a
DTSD Webinars: There's a paper in everyone's packet. This was what Maria the heart had. She had shared this back in September their plan so I mean the numbers are off a little bit, but at least it gives you an idea what the numbers across the districts look like. So so basically, what? What's happening is they're putting it in in addition to the cafeteria, right.
DTSD Webinars: and they are at a shortfall of about, I think, $150,000 for the the cafeteria, and this was coming back and scrubbing the the money and re-bidding but what it'll do is it'll take their capital fund that or
DTSD Webinars: i'm trying to. It'll take your budget down to a point where they don't have any
DTSD Webinars: any funds in the event that they have any breakdown. So they're asking for a one time approval to be able to keep the at the
DTSD Webinars: the estimated surplus that they provide. And again, when you look at what Dolphin county does, is they? They really manage their money to a a low amount, and then they they bring money back. So they're doing a very good job of that. Their budget this year will be a 1.5% increase, which I think is the lowest
DTSD Webinars: in the last 3 or 4 years. So they really do manage the money well what they get, but they don't have a slush fund.
DTSD Webinars: By law they can't hold a slush fund, so they're asking to be able to build this up for a one time, because, she said.
DTSD Webinars: if we had to do any type of repair we would have to come back to the schools
DTSD Webinars: for that money. So well. I don't have a problem with that, because our our reimburse, our surplus allocation, is very low, but to the other school districts. Are they in agreement? Are they Still, this is just coming to Dairy Township right now, and we vote on it
DTSD Webinars: in the next. You're a member of Dolphin County. Do you know, if, like Central Dolphin is going to be okay with it? Have they discussed it? Yes, we they
DTSD Webinars: They just got the information at the last meeting, so I don't think there was a full discussion, because there there was no vote. It was a
DTSD Webinars: Here's the information, bring it up for vote at the next time. So she did, because i'd reached out to her. So I had a good understanding, too, and I Yes, she shared it with the Board members last week. Superintendents heard the information. She just this week pushed it out to the business managers as well. So I think those conversations are just now happening. So yeah, I thought the same thing like, Well, we we're not the problem. We're not going to be the ones
DTSD Webinars: right, and we actually have a decrease next Year's budget. We went down a little bit in our
DTSD Webinars: enrollment, right? Yeah, we did.
DTSD Webinars: Now, the thing is also
DTSD Webinars: get that money in this what they're they're asking for
DTSD Webinars: as joint operating committee, and it'll be majority wins right. That is correct.
DTSD Webinars: Central to often those 2 members could vote. No, we vote Yes, Gotcha, you know. Halifax could vote. Yes, so it's based on the joint committee at stopping on a tech. Not each individual board
DTSD Webinars: right. I was just coming to our board to make sure that we're in alignment.
DTSD Webinars: Right? Correct if I If if there was everybody on the board here that was not in favor of. I would not be. They'll be discussing it. Other school districts for sure. Yes.
DTSD Webinars: i'm. Okay. With that.
DTSD Webinars: Does that need to go to a vote to the full board. Or is that just a informational?
DTSD Webinars: That's a good question. We always get a surplus back right?
DTSD Webinars: I don't know if that's in their board operating guidelines. That's just. They can't keep the money. I know that.
DTSD Webinars: So I wonder if we should vote at the Board level
DTSD Webinars: the email
DTSD Webinars: we would just be going to give you guidance because you have a voting authority on our behalf email that she had sent. That was that was part of we do have it on the it said, that's a Joc vote, right? We have it. Yes, so I mean technically, we have voted to give you and Donna
DTSD Webinars: Delegate assignment power to vote. So I don't. Yeah, now that I think about it again, I think.
DTSD Webinars: and that's fine. I just. I wanted to make sure that I was doing everything correctly. Yeah.
DTSD Webinars: it's really nothing else in your package. Just the the monthly information. And then the the contracts we started there. If there's any questions on anything for tonight or for next board meeting, we have about a minute there anything for the good of the order.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, Thank you.
DTSD Webinars: I'd like to take a motion to adjourn the Finance Committee meeting.
DTSD Webinars: Okay, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you.