Brentwood Borough School District
SUPERINTENDENT’ S
M E S S A G E
BY DR. AMY M. BURCH rentwood Borough SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
The Governor’ s Budget
The Governor’ s proposed budget for 2017-2018 is an increase of $ 670 million( 2.1 %) compared to the current 2016-2017 enacted budget. Instead of considering broad base tax reforms, the focus is on limiting spending in various areas and identifying efficiencies( combining of the Department of Health and Human Services), closing state run facilities, imposing a gas severance tax, selling state property and closing corporate loopholes.
In the area of education, the Governor is proposing a $ 458.081 million( 3.7 %) increase compared to last year’ s levels for education. More specifically the budget includes:
• $ 100 million increase for Basic Education Funding( 1.7 %)
• $ 25 million increase for Special Education( 2.3 %)
• $ 11.719 million increase for Early Intervention( 4.6 %)
• $ 65 million for PreK Counts
• $ 10 million increase for Head Start Supplemental
• $ 29.703 million for PlanCon( there was no money budgeted in PlanCon last year)
Two areas that were cut or level funded include:
• $ 50 million reduction in transportation
• Level funding for Career and Technical Centers
While the proposed increases to education are appreciated, the increases do not reverse the funding cuts that were enacted several years ago. In addition, with continued increases in mandated costs such as PSERS and health care schools are left to grapple with what areas to cut. This is not just impacting small school districts; large school districts are facing the same challenges. Parents and residents are urged to stay in contact with local legislators to encourage them to support public education.
60 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall
Property Tax Elimination Senate Bill 76
There is a push in the legislature to eliminate property taxes. While this may seem like good news, be aware of the fine print!
Senate Bill 76 as written states:
• School property tax- Eliminated except to cover school debt
• Proposed increase in Personal Income Tax( PIT) from 3.07 % to 4.95 %
• Proposed increase in Sales and Use Tax( SUT) from 6 % to 7 % Allegheny County has an additional 1 % added to purchases so it could increase to 8 %.
If this bill passes as written, what would that mean for Brentwood residents?
• Residents would still pay a portion of school property taxes AND pay increases in PIT and as well as SUT.
• Local tax dollars may not stay local
• Income tax deduction for school district real estate taxes will be lost
Who wins if Senate Bill 76 passes as written?
• Landlords / Commercial Property Owners
• Big Business / Corporations
• Out-of-State Property Owners
Who loses if Senate Bill passes as written?
• Renters
• Individual working taxpayers
• Small business owners
• Public school students Beyond the winners and losers, there are many unanswered questions:
• How will the education money be distributed in future years?
• Will education dollars be distributed quarterly in advance?
• How will school districts be expected to manage increases in mandated costs( PSERS, charter schools, special education, etc.)?
• Will the state negotiate collective bargaining?
• How will inequities in student funding be addressed?