CATAWISSA R.R. - While there is still some tweaking to be done, Southern Columbia Area passed a proposed $16.5 million budget for 2011-2012 during a regular meeting Monday night.
The Southern Columbia School Board voted 8-1 for the district's proposed final budget of $16,492,258, which is $395,075 less than last year's budget, but still contains a $20,042 deficit. The board's finance committee is scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, May 25, to hammer out the final numbers to balance the spending plan.
In order to get the figures closer, a one-mill tax increase is proposed, which will generate an extra $180,000 in revenue, in addition to the 1.8-percent tax index increase already set through Act 1.
Board member Charlie Porter criticized the budget and the expansive building project the district is currently undertaking.
"This budget has educational cuts in it, but we knew there would be decreases," Porter said.
"Not to the extent that the state has made," Superintendent Charles Reh answered, referring to the $600,000 Southern Columbia will have to do without, thanks to the proposed state budget.
"We had inklings of it, but yet we voted to do this building project. So now we have to make cuts," Porter continued. "I have to vote for this budget, and I do so reluctantly, because it pains me to cut education."
"Look, the vote is taken and done," member David Stellfox. "The project has started, so we can't go back now."
Board member Eric Stahley cast the lone dissenting vote against the budget, with Jennifer Oiler, Porter, Stellfox, Paul Starr, Richard Steele, Timothy Vought, Michael Yeager and John Yocum voting for it.
The building project - which through renovations and additions will put middle school-age students under one roof, provide space for special education students and add a new all-weather track to the stadium and new heating and air conditioning units for the high school and middle school - was the subject of more criticism later as the board approved a change order, adding $30,750 to the project to reroute an underground electrical line. The original specifications missed an electrical enclosure box.
"The problem with us missing it, is that the architect is going to get paid a percentage of that change order, which is going to make him more money," Porter said.
Stellfox pointed out that all architects make a percentage on change orders.
"They all do this," he said.
The order was approved 8-1 with Stahley casting the lone dissenting vote; he continued to vote no on anything concerning the building project.
The board also discussed the minutes of previous board meetings. Some members think the minutes are too detailed and that board secretary Tresa Britch's time could be better used if the documents were more succinct.
An item was listed on Monday's agenda to direct the secretary to only include the following information: date, time and place of the meeting; board members present; substance of all official actions, including votes taken; names of citizens who appeared and the subject of their commentary; reference to any notice of an executive session and the reason given, and any other information required by law.
The proposal was changed to a discussion item after it was learned the Pennsylvania School Board Association would be hosting a webinar on the topic of meeting minutes today. Britch was asked to attend the webinar and report back to the board; the item will be on the agenda June 13.
"I would hope that we can find a balance, to keep the transparency of our work, and utilize her time better," board member Rick Steele said.
Frank Berger, a citizen who attended the meeting, said many people don't attend meetings, but read the minutes online, a practice he hopes the board will continue.
"I hope that what you do doesn't deprive them of that information," he said.