Southern Columbia predicts worst-case scenario of $250 tax increase over 5 years

by justin strawser

CATAWISSA RR - In a five-year projection, the Southern Columbia Area School District business manager predicted an increase in $250 in Northumberland County residents' taxes.

However, business manager Dan Rodgers described this Monday night as a worst-case scenario.

With a estimated $20 million building project moving closer to fruition, the most likely outcome to fund the project is phasing in a tax increase slightly each year for three years.

Rodgers told the school board Monday evening that the third year of the tax hike will coincide with a jump in what the district must contribute to the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). Currently, the district budgets 7 percent of its revenue for PSERS, but the district may have to contribute 30 percent in the highest projected estimate in the 2012-13 school year.

To cover a projected $1.2 million deficit by 2013-14 school year as a result of the sudden jump, property taxes would have to be raised.

The average Northumberland County taxpayer would have to pay an extra $250 five years out if the building project and the 30 percent PSERS increase come into play. In Columbia County, residents would be paying $195 extra.

However, explained Rodgers, if the state government phases in the PSERS increase at 3 percent over a period of eight years or more, residents would be paying significantly less in year five.

Northumberland County residents would be paying $96 extra; in Columbia County, that number would be $75.

The projection took into account a 4 percent salary increase, benefit packages and health care, projections of electricity deregulation and a 1 percent increase in supplies.

"The game plan here is to continuously update this five-year projection as I'm getting closer to a 2010-11 actual budget," said Rodgers.

He added, "There were a lot of assumptions made in this projection; however, we will continue to tweak it."

An updated projection is expected to be released at a special finance meeting scheduled at the end of March. The projections are available for public inspection.

Following last week's public hearing to discuss the district's multi-million dollar building project, Superintendent Charles Reh defended the need to move forward with the project, focusing on bringing the middle school under one roof.

"The option we presented is the option that meets our needs," he said to the board. "I strongly recommend the board proceed with the option that has been presented to them and proceed with the schedule we have."

Currently, the middle school - consisting of fifth through eight grades - is divided between the elementary and high school buildings. The building project would move middle school students out of the elementary building into the high school building, unifying them under the same roof.

Many people at the public hearing opposed the building project.

According to Reh, 69 percent of the school districts in the nation utilize a middle school concept and, he said, "Southern Columbia is the only school district that I'm aware of with a middle school concept with the students in different buildings."

Reh introduced Sharon Knouse, sixth grade learning support teacher, who expressed her desire to have a unified middle school.

Currently, she explained, the middle school students in the elementary school are functioning under two discipline plans, which is confusing for them.

"They are constantly having to switch back and forth between what's acceptable for a middle school student and what's acceptable for elementary," she said. "Their needs are maturing, and they need to have those met."

Furthermore, she said, the students have a difficult time developing stable peer groups. The middle school schedule cannot be expanded due to use of facilities, timing and elementary schedules. The middle school teachers separated by the buildings also have no time to collaborate.

"We have an opportunity to meet those needs and move forward to the benefit of the students," she said.

Joseph Shirvinski, the elementary school principal, said he noticed the middle school students in his building don't "have an identity."

"We're working it out because we have to work it out," he said. "It's working, but it's not working. It's frustrating."

In other business, the board:

- Will vote next week on Pathline Project Management to provide Value Engineering of Electrical and Mechanical Systems and Clerk of the Works at a cost of $161,500.

- Accepted the resignation of Susan C. Robinson from the position of middle school guidance counselor effective with the end of 2009-10 school year. She had been in the position since November 1993.