Belle Vernon fails to come up with budget
BELLE VERNON – The Belle Vernon Area School Board cannot approve a final budget for the 2003-2004 school year until the school officials know how much subsidy the state will send to the district, according to a school director. “There is no way we can tell what the revenues will be until the state has passed their budget,” board President Aaron Bialon said Monday.
With the district’s deadline to provide the state with a budget approaching, the board, instead of passing a budget, decided to send the state a resolution, making some requests that would improve the district’s, and other schools’, finances.
The board requested that the state provide exact amounts of funding it will provide to the district at least 60 days before the district’s June 30 budget adoption date.
The resolution points out that the district has problems with the state’s mandating certain programs but not funding them. Board Secretary Ralph Iacoboni said it would be helpful if the state could provide districts with more options when mandating programs.
The measure, Bialon said, requests that the commonwealth fund added expenses for the pension fund that are “imposed by the commonwealth.”
“They add to the requirements for the pension fund but do not fund those added expenses,” said Bialon. “We would like them to help that problem be alleviated.”
Bialon said the state has not provided the 50 percent funding that the state Constitution requires it to allocate to school districts, and the resolution mentions this problem.
“I want to request that they increase subsidy, as the current 35 percent is not reasonable, adequate or fair,” said Bialon.
He also said he wants the state to amend tax laws that decrease tax incapability for the public.
“Raising taxes for property owners burdens all taxpayers in the commonwealth, especially the elderly,” said Bialon.
He suggested that the state explore other tax options that would have owners of large businesses and entertainment facilities, not property owners, pay more taxes.
Finally, Bialon suggested that the state provide additional money to help defray the cost of health insurance.
The board was in agreement that the resolution would be passed and sent to the state.
“I would like to have this finalized throughout the month of August,” said Bialon. “We may not see any budget impact this year, but hopefully next year we could see some savings and increased revenues for all districts in the commonwealth. Perhaps the state will hear us and help us with our cause.”
In other matters, the board appointed former Assistant Superintendent Robert Nagy to fill Dr. Charles Chandler’s position as superintendent, effective July 1.
They will sign Nagy to a five-year contract. In order to reduce cost to the district, the position of assistant superintendent will be eliminated.
As Nagy pointed out at last week’s agenda meeting, seven district employees have decided to retire, under the terms and conditions of the Professional Employee Retirement Incentive Plan adopted by the board in May, in order to help cut costs.
“I would like to thank these people, and all others who are retiring this year, for their dedicated service to the district over the years,” said Bialon. “Congratulations to you all on your retirement.”
In another matter, the board has had continuous discussions about an agreement to receive $200,000 in repayment from Cunzolo Contractors for work to the football field that the board decided not to complete. The board has entered a confidential agreement with the company.