Apr 30, 2002 By Jackie Beranek 2 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Several 2002-03 budget adjustments were suggested by Connellsville Area School District business manager William Harper at Monday’s budget meeting. Harper, speaking to a handful of board members, said he has found a way to reduce a $3.7 million shortfall to $2.9 million.

Harper also said what made a big difference was the reduction in the employees retirement fund.

“Two weeks ago, we didn’t know that the state would reduce our retirement contributions,” said Harper. “We can expect to save about $1,173,800.”

Harper said that last week Gov. Mark Schweiker signed into law House Bill 27, which the state Legislature passed one week before. The measure altered the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) contribution rate through a change in the actuarial assumptions that spread the calculations from a three-year to a five-year period.

“At our last budget meeting, we were working on the assumption that we would pay a nearly 400 percent increase in the amount of money we had to contribute to retirement funds for past employees,” said Harper.

Harper said that historically the school board has faced a shortfall from $1.5 million to $2.3 million that has to be addressed prior to final approval of the budget at the end of May.

Other proposed savings include $75,000 in new adoptions, $19,800 in Intermediate Unit alternative education services, $52,000 in supplies, $700 in books and periodicals, $33,500 in new equipment, $30,000 in replacement equipment, $2,000 in purchasing technical services and $3,000 in repairs and maintenance services.

Harper said additional savings will come from teacher retirement savings, $141,900; $10,800 in Social Security; $1,600 in retirements; $200 in unemployment compensation and $400,000 in Intermediate Unit educational services (IDEA criteria changes).

The budget could be trimmed even more, said Harper, if some of the district staff who are eligible to retire at the end of the school year did.

“Of the 48 eligible for regular retirement, four are administrators, 30 are teachers and the remaining 14 are listed as support staff,” said the business manager.

“In addition, an additional 36 school district employees are eligible for early retirement. We could save an additional $30,000 per teacher if those who are of retirement status would retire.”

Harper said that about 90 percent of the $53.6 million proposed budget is used for instructional purposes.

The school board must approve the tentative budget by May 31 and the budget by June 30.