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Schools

School Board Adopts Final Budget

Spending plan of $118.75 million raises average tax bill by $43.

The , as expected, on Wednesday adopted a 2011-2012 budget that raises the average tax bill by about $43.

According to the final budget resolution, the spending plan totals $118.75 million with revenues of about $116.9 million. The difference is addressed by a draw down of about $1.88 million from the district's fund balance.

District officials have said the budget reflects about $6.7 million in increased expenditures, which they say are largely out of their control. The higher expenditures include $1.6 million for the Public School Employees Retirement System.

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The budget eliminates one administrative position, accomplished through attrition. It maintains the much-discussed and supported full-day kindergarten pilot program comprised of one class at each of the district's six elementary schools.

Business manager Jack Myers indicated Wednesday that the budget total was raised in the last two weeks from $118.3 million because the district is now counting on some state block grant funding. That money had been eliminated in the proposed state budget – putting the full-day kindergarten program in jeopardy – but it may be restored.

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Before the latest change, district officials had said they were losing about $3 million in state aid. In addition, the district is not seeing about $2 million in federal stimulus funds it received for this school year.

The budget includes about $4 million in tax revenue from Parx Casino.

The total budget figure is about $3.5 million more than the 2010-2011 budget.

The budget raises the average tax bill – of a homeowner assessed at the township median of $22,000 – by $42.96. It increases the school tax rate by 1.4 percent or 1.95 mills to 141.4 mills.

Superintendent Bill Gretzula has said that over the last three years the Bensalem district has had the lowest tax hikes in Bucks County.

The budget was approved with no comment from the board or public. Board members may have had another thing on their minds, as they had just learned of Gretzula's then-pending announcement to step down as superintendent ().

The budget vote was 7-0, as board member Sherri Underland missed her third straight meeting since it was reported she had been charged with marijuana possession. Board member Harry Kramer was also absent.

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