MOUNT CARMEL - After their second work session concerning the 2011-2012 budget, members of the Mount Carmel Area School Board hope a tax increase will not be needed this year. That good news, however, may come with some tough decisions.
The board approved a $17,702,743.44 proposed final budget on May 19, which included the administration's recommendation for a 5-mill increase for residents in Northumberland County and a 2.54-mill increase in Columbia County. At the time, the board said they hoped to either eliminate or reduce the tax increase if state funding increased when Pennsylvania's budget is passed.
The tax increase would raise $350,000, but the district is facing a $2 million deficit, brought on by a $1.4 million dollar decrease in funding from the state.
Since passing the preliminary budget, the board has met for weekly work sessions, with progress being made.
"We are looking at every possible way we can to cut the budget and we hope to do so with the least amount of impact to our students," board President Rose Marquardt said at the end of the meeting.
Superintendent Cheryl Latorre listed several measures the board will be taking in order to balance the budget.
"We will be looking at cutting programs, furloughing teachers and checking into the contract of every service that is provided to the district," Latorre said. "We will be in contact in the near future with the state Department of Education seeking approval to close some programs."
The board also mentioned a pay freeze for all staff members, except for teachers. All administrators had accepted a one-year pay freeze earlier this year, but the education association voted it down.
With all the cuts in place, board members said Thursday night they are hopeful they can balance the budget without needing any tax increase, whether they receive an increase from the state or not.
At the start of the meeting, the board discussed the benefits of keeping the school's swimming pool open, meeting with building and grounds director David Fegley and assistant maintenance supervisor Sam Ryan.
After Fegley gave a report of money spent on equipment replacement and how much the pool is utilized, the board discussed the pros and cons of keeping the aquatic area open.
A suggestion was made to close it for a year, but Fegley said that if that happens, the pool would suffer costly damage.
"You drain the pool, you don't have the pressure on the walls, and then you have cracking. You don't have the water running through the pipes and the seals will dry out. The room is heated by a dehumidifier, and without the water, you can't heat the space, so it can't be used as a classroom," he said.
Board member Nicholas Goretski III, an opponent of the pool in the discussion, did not see the merits of swimming.
"My son, through participation in football and track and field, earned a partial scholarship to college," he said. "You don't see that here with swimming, or anyone training for the Olympics."
Donna James defended the program.
"You have people from outside the area coming in that love competing here and plan their days and meals around it. Look outside of the area for a second and you would see that," she said.
"We are working for the school here," Goretski said. "We are a school district, not a community center."
Marquardt tried to reach common ground.
"I don't like baseball or softball, and I don't swim, but I would not deny a child that wanted to play a sport or participate in a program. Swimming is a sport where any handicapped child can participate in," Marquardt said.
Board member Dr. Raymond Kraynak said the district has been "living in a dream world" as if the school had unlimited funds.
"For every sport you want to keep around, you have to come up with an educational program that has to be cut because the money isn't there. We've dumped millions into this pool over the years and it's living beyond its life," he said.
Following the discussion, the board met behind closed doors for more than an hour to discuss possible litigation and personnel issues, possibly related to the proposed furloughs.
The next work session will be held at 5:30 p.m. June 16 in the district office. The next regular meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 22 in the district office. The board is expected to pass the budget at the regular meeting.