PRSD Balances Budget Without Tax Increase

2007-2008 Final Budget

The Pine-Richland School Board is balancing its budget without a tax increase for the fourth year in a row.The PR School Board approved a General Operation Fund Budget for the 2007-2008 School Year with total expenditures of $56,767,271 and total revenues of $56,070,926 with a fund balance utilization of $696,345 for capital projects.

“The PR School Board is to be commended for their fiscal practices,” said Doug McCausland, director of Fiscal & Management Services. “They have approved a balanced budget that continues to improve our excellent academic and extracurricular programs here at the Pine-Richland School District without negatively impacting the taxpayer.”

This budget represents a zero increase in real estate tax millage for the taxpayers of the District. This is the fourth consecutive year that the millage rate will remain at 20.20 mills.

“While many districts have struggled recently to simply maintain programs, Pine-Richland continues to expand and strengthen the rigor of its academic programs, customized services and extracurricular activities for students,” said McCausland.  

The 2007-2008 budget provides for some significant educational and capital enhancements for PRSD. These enhancements include:

   

• Allocating an additional $75,000 for e-learning courses and virtual field trips
  
• Adding two additional teachers will be hired to support accelerated programs and anticipated enrollments at the high school level

• Hiring two new assistant superintendents to align with Board’s revised organizational structure to provide for better development of curriculum options and deliver effective professional development to meet the district strategic plan initiatives
  
• Hiring a secondary guidance career/college placement officer to assist students will preparing for career options and college selection at the high school level
  
• Increasing the number of para-educators to keep pace with growing enrollments and student needs/services
  
• Incorporating girls’ lacrosse into the district budget as a fully funded interscholastic sport

• Using more than a $1 million on technology equipment and software to improve the infrastructure of the district network, replacing teacher laptops, providing interactive classroom technology. Many of these purchases will be funded through the Classrooms of the Future Grant.
  
• Repairing the parking lot at Richland Elementary
  
• Upgrading security systems on the secondary campus, repairing structures and grounds at Richland Elementary, and minor field and track repairs at the stadium.

“The Pine-Richland School District Board, administrators and staff continue to strive to provide the strongest academic programs and extracurricular opportunities for all students using all resources available to their greatest efficiency,” said Dr. James C. Manley. “We strongly encourage all citizens to take the time to review the specifics of final Budget to clearly understand how their tax dollars are being used.”

Electronic copies of the complete budget are available online at http://www.pinerichland.org/0708budget.htm.

Any questions concerning the Final Adopted Budget may be directed to Douglas McCausland, director of Fiscal & Management Services at dmccausland@pinerichland.org or call (724) 625-7773 ext. 6301.

Original/Proposed Budget
2007-2008 Proposed General Fund Budget
2007-2008 Proposed General Fund Budget Presentation
PDE Version of 2007-2008 Proposed Budget