Brentwood Borough School District
SUPERINTENDENT ’ S
M E S S A G E
BY DR . AMY M . BURCH rentwood Borough SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
The Governor ’ s Budget
The Governor ’ s proposed budget for 2017-2018 is an increase of $ 670 million ( 2.1 %) compared to the current 2016-2017 enacted budget . Instead of considering broad base tax reforms , the focus is on limiting spending in various areas and identifying efficiencies ( combining of the Department of Health and Human Services ), closing state run facilities , imposing a gas severance tax , selling state property and closing corporate loopholes .
In the area of education , the Governor is proposing a $ 458.081 million ( 3.7 %) increase compared to last year ’ s levels for education . More specifically the budget includes :
• $ 100 million increase for Basic Education Funding ( 1.7 %)
• $ 25 million increase for Special Education ( 2.3 %)
• $ 11.719 million increase for Early Intervention ( 4.6 %)
• $ 65 million for PreK Counts
• $ 10 million increase for Head Start Supplemental
• $ 29.703 million for PlanCon ( there was no money budgeted in PlanCon last year )
Two areas that were cut or level funded include :
• $ 50 million reduction in transportation
• Level funding for Career and Technical Centers
While the proposed increases to education are appreciated , the increases do not reverse the funding cuts that were enacted several years ago . In addition , with continued increases in mandated costs such as PSERS and health care schools are left to grapple with what areas to cut . This is not just impacting small school districts ; large school districts are facing the same challenges . Parents and residents are urged to stay in contact with local legislators to encourage them to support public education .
60 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall
Property Tax Elimination Senate Bill 76
There is a push in the legislature to eliminate property taxes . While this may seem like good news , be aware of the fine print !
Senate Bill 76 as written states :
• School property tax - Eliminated except to cover school debt
• Proposed increase in Personal Income Tax ( PIT ) from 3.07 % to 4.95 %
• Proposed increase in Sales and Use Tax ( SUT ) from 6 % to 7 % Allegheny County has an additional 1 % added to purchases so it could increase to 8 %.
If this bill passes as written , what would that mean for Brentwood residents ?
• Residents would still pay a portion of school property taxes AND pay increases in PIT and as well as SUT .
• Local tax dollars may not stay local
• Income tax deduction for school district real estate taxes will be lost
Who wins if Senate Bill 76 passes as written ?
• Landlords / Commercial Property Owners
• Big Business / Corporations
• Out-of-State Property Owners
Who loses if Senate Bill passes as written ?
• Renters
• Individual working taxpayers
• Small business owners
• Public school students Beyond the winners and losers , there are many unanswered questions :
• How will the education money be distributed in future years ?
• Will education dollars be distributed quarterly in advance ?
• How will school districts be expected to manage increases in mandated costs ( PSERS , charter schools , special education , etc .)?
• Will the state negotiate collective bargaining ?
• How will inequities in student funding be addressed ?