By law, as superintendent, I am required to make available to the public my Proposed 2024-25 Budget plan on or before June 1st. As a school district, we publish the proposed 2024-25 budget plan on our website. Currently, all required information for state compliance is now available on the district website, including additional related information. We will continue to add additional supporting information between now and June 18th (the board public hearing and adoption meeting).
We highly recommend that you review the 2024-25 Major Budget Initiatives section of the 2024-25 Proposed Budget for critical explanations.
As you are aware, declining enrollment continues to be an issue for the school district affecting the state revenues we receive from the state legislature. Since approximately 75% of the district’s General Fund revenues are controlled by the state, state funding levels largely dictate the available funds for the minimum school program each year, including any salary and wage increases. The Proposed 2024-25 Budget plan by me, as superintendent, adheres to goals approved by the school board to:
- Require a balanced budget,
- Ensure the budget is sustainable over the long haul,
- Avoid decisions that result in new taxes, and
- Reduce staff, as necessary with declining enrollments, through attrition.
As your superintendent, my funding philosophies are meant to provide:
- Effective learning opportunities for students,
- The best access to learning opportunities for students, and
- The efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
Declining enrollment is the main factor affecting the 2024-25 Budget Plan and the primary reason for reduced revenues. Much consideration has been given to the ability of the district to sustain the large increases to salaries and wages given in 2023-24. We are also working hard to increase salaries and compensation for those serving our students in the coming school year. Our district continues to maintain fully paid health insurance for full time employees. Always our primary budgeting factor, attention is given to maintaining safe and appropriate learning spaces for students in our schools with the needed resources. Several unfunded mandates from the last legislative session are also on our minds, including: additional safety measures, employee leave, new facility requirements, and changes in funding sources for ongoing programs.
Addressing these factors involves commitment to principles that meet the needs of students while maintaining the goals of the district, including:
- Avoiding the use of one time funding for ongoing needs.
- Allowing school sites to use Teacher and Student Success Act (TSSA) and School Land Trust funds to maintain some staff during reductions.
- Focusing on high priority capital projects that maintain safe and effective learning environments for students.
- Using the fund balance to implement job reduction through attrition.
- Using the fund balance to protect taxpayers by avoiding fluctuations in property taxes.
- Using the fund balance to add revenue to the school district through interest earning that can be used as one-time funding.
Because of ongoing adherence to these goals, principles, and philosophies, the budgets of the Beaver County School District remain sound. As a school district we continue to avoid adding any new taxes and we continue to respond to enrollment declines in a thoughtful and measured way.
Thanks to all who contributed to the budget development process. Several board members and administrators participated in many budget planning discussions, and we are very grateful for your help and support of public education.