[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6643114,"mediaKeyId","2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162","parentId",2532590,"title","Pennridge Finance Committee flags $5.7M budget gap; staff outline savings and potential tax options","audioSeconds",2618,"startMs",7240000,"endMs",9858000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162&start=7240&end=9858","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162/thumbnail_7240000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6643114/Pennsylvania/Pennridge-Finance-Committee-flags-57M-budget-gap-staff-outline-savings-and-potential-tax-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643114-dcf85f7e3632b372f3ed714e13873488/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227184&Signature=mbrHV8Z3S24~trkXIy6kZA9pXuh3iP-pS14Iv-luY9XGmU9TJ42zqJODoQhKT8krihKMyTzaT7ACMNcFpP83qO7cMN9D~VZXoxYKgNj6Fijeuv~hd3qwXIEHjvUrq~Ro1eZoopPrDEPBBg3QSemtfSJ8LbSj684XSDFoeDoobF-EPIiL-oCGSZciDonJ2SdfGpejb-Y~x8e5Ae6ClgUAHgmpJvCqPemtLWb1uE0Km6UlQnpoJGMB~NfIoAJeVjq-ROCGt76GZPcMqn9-rX7AxFR19Ze1w14bM23M90DJY7xcFMQLzgX6jjzzJ36zIax0ZTLxi7yf0VF-FBpo0UJw~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pennridge School District","date","2025-03-11T03:16:47.84Z","article","Pennridge School District finance staff told the committee on March 10 that the district faces a projected structural shortfall for the 2025–26 fiscal year and outlined savings already identified and options to close the gap.

\"We currently have a deficit budget of $5,740,000, and that number does not include any tax increase, at all,\" said Sean (finance staff) during the budget presentation. The presentation showed projected revenue of about $160.1 million and expenditures around $165.8 million under the current assumptions, producing the shortfall.

Staff described drivers on both sides of the ledger. On the expenditure side, salary and benefits remain the largest cost drivers: staff asked the committee to account for negotiated salary changes, increases in retirement contribution rates and a projected medical/prescription insurance increase that the administration planned to phase in as part of risk‑management adjustments. The administration said employee benefits and retirement increase were responsible for a large portion of the proposed budget rise.

On the revenue side, staff said local revenue growth has slowed: assessed‑value growth is moderating and earned income tax collections have not collected the increases of prior years. The presentation noted the Act 1 index for the district is 4%; applying the index (a 4% property tax increase under Pennsylvania law) would yield about $3.5 million in additional tax revenue and reduce but not eliminate the shortfall.

Finance staff summarized steps already taken to narrow the gap: retirements and vacancies and departmental reviews have produced roughly $3.7 million in savings and reductions in requested positions; the administration also limited a proposed insurance increase (implementing 18% instead of a 23.5% vendor recommendation) and reduced legal and other line items during budget review. After those measures, the remaining deficit approximate $5.74 million was reduced to roughly $5.7 million and—if the district applied the full 4% Act 1 index—would drop to about $2.2 million.

Staff emphasized the district would prefer a mix of options rather than relying on fund balance or one‑time reserves to close the gap, warning that using one‑time money would not eliminate future structural pressure. Committee members discussed additional savings, potential use of reserves, capital transfer decisions and the role of future state funding changes. Finance staff said they will continue to identify reductions and will return with further proposals before the board's first and second budget votes in May and June.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monday, March 10th, 2025 - PSD Facilities, Finance, and Policy Committee Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","District finance officials reported a projected $5.74 million deficit for the 2025–26 budget before a possible Act 1 index tax increase; the administration presented $3.7 million in proposed savings and said a full 4% Act 1 raise would cover about $3.5 million, leaving a remaining shortfall to address before budget adoption.","taxTitle","Pennridge SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania","taxId",51485,"location","Pennsylvania","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6643117,"Pennridge transportation staff outline bus replacement plan and rising costs in 2025–26 budget",1268,4128000,5396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162&start=4128&end=5396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162/thumbnail_4128000.jpg","/articles/6643117/Pennsylvania/Pennridge-transportation-staff-outline-bus-replacement-plan-and-rising-costs-in-202526-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643117-cd6ed27d4b5abea2670b65e1f29b02d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227184&Signature=eZNoDy72TLJd~d-ITfQpWUOycsPboonAZO2Zrtqc6AbSjEpZqiFbrWELsISB-8Pt1JZ71eCQn6PaRnzowF5qhFG92ymtnrSlBlBa3EZgSgryRM2rAUXAoRVRZLzeQVpXP2RHr41BSepWpe1vzRtdUbL24--EdPUL4WBam2iI3XcvMofEQd5-RT7V~3ic5Vaum~DQ6ODOjtmFD1qWdZxmrsQVgvA3~SIBjhe0JsNMB1qU1dVcPI15xN0jdkTStrsnHNVyiZ0iESCztYaMoKoNsKuwp1aEl87ZjW~y94Ln9VZqhcLxISJBDYj44mBi7zw-5~EadRR8sMUhoCqHSvADpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Transportation leaders presented Pennridge School District's 2025–26 transportation budget and a multi‑year vehicle replacement plan during the finance meeting on March 10, saying rising equipment costs and greater service demand are driving a proposed $1.24 million (8.1%) budget increase.

\"We have approximately 36 to 37 students with the IU that they're transporting right now,\" said the transportation presenter, describing students placed out‑of‑district that the district helps transport. She said those runs are often shared with other districts and sometimes require single‑student placements on long routes.

The presentation showed the district currently operates a mixed fleet: 75 full‑size buses (including 13 wheelchair buses), 18 small school buses and nine vans. Staff said replacement costs have increased sharply in recent years — a full‑size bus that previously cost under $100,000 now runs roughly $160,000 — and lead times remain about a year despite improvements since the COVID backlog. Transportation staff proposed capital replacement of four full‑size buses, two wheelchair buses and two vans in the coming cycle.

Staff described operational adjustments made during the regional driver shortage: routes were consolidated from roughly 95 to about 68–69, tiered routing was used to keep service on time, and some buses run long multi‑school routes in the morning and afternoon. The department also outlined technology and contract changes: a new routing system is being funded in part through a bus‑patrol vendor that provides cameras and pays for routing system costs for a multi‑year period, while some prior routing software costs declined.

The department proposed a 70/30 cost split for non‑public (private/parochial) transportation costs versus public routes to account for shared runs, a split staff described as a long‑standing practice tied to state reporting requirements.

On fleet readiness and priorities, staff told the committee the critical immediate need is an additional wheelchair bus next year. \"I must have a wheelchair bus for next year,\" the presenter said. The department said it will prioritize one wheelchair bus purchase if budget constraints require trimming the planned replacements.

Committee members asked about bus acquisition timing, likelihood of further price escalation and how vehicle life is determined. The transportation presenter said the district aims to keep route buses under 10 years to maximize reliability and reimbursement, but that many vehicles now fall in the 10–19 year age range because replacement purchases slowed during the pandemic and costs jumped.

The committee did not vote on the transportation requests. Staff said the department will submit formal bids and capital requests as part of the district's budget process and recommended the board consider the fleet plan during upcoming budget votes.","Transportation leadership told the committee they plan to replace part of the aging fleet — four full‑size buses, two wheelchair buses and two vans — and warned of rising vehicle and insurance costs, driver shortages and greater special‑education transport needs that are inflating next year's budget.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6643118,"Upper West County Technical School presents budget, enrollment and program expansion plans",2380,1107000,3487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162&start=1107&end=3487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162/thumbnail_1107000.jpg","/articles/6643118/Pennsylvania/Upper-West-County-Technical-School-presents-budget-enrollment-and-program-expansion-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643118-4c2a8c4da1cad5dff1bc11413d2910f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227184&Signature=kM-4bDurU-GZsSX3j1~dqfYiJp1rqb6~R53H2suo4~DSHXH3FK2ZukjwVViZuCiyi-ZAjaVojOrTMHM91Zl~uD25i2TV5omPITmham3LTTo53PSje11iYyHgaqWhcDXDhuz~IkzmsMfhDz1QtMljvVNm51mjj5e-ftqP7L5bB9wtmjDe3US14k7M3loXS-4YUCT9FKIgGMgoj5hvOm0Q4jjcifQUpMnEoV2NgBdHz86l3H76alY17~gR~SC0HPFtj61Au3DZo6XT00zrDpjYzu2PXyylYqQz7K80pB8JhtBQaExY~~8ANnx-DmO0VQLwUCXVwKse9YXUfwrbHh-ezw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Upper West County Technical School leaders told the Pennridge finance and facilities committee on March 10 that their proposed 2025–26 budget prioritizes expanding career and technical programs while using fund balance to cover an expected operating shortfall.

\"This budget represents a collaborative effort reflecting the dedication of our exceptional faculty and staff, our talented students, future students and parents, and the invaluable support of our business partners,\" said Michael Verra, executive director of Upper West County Technical School, summarizing the document presented to the district committee.

Presenters said enrollment projections for the upcoming year sit near 935–950 students out of a total capacity of about 1,036 seats; the presentation showed several programs with waiting lists and projected red‑dot indicators for seats with waiting lists of 10 or more. To reduce waiting lists, UPCTS proposed several new or expanded offerings, including a planned fire program and added seats within the transportation cluster. The school estimated a per‑student cost of about $2,000 for the proposed fire program and budgeted additional staffing for transportation pathways.

The budget document included a $150,000 allocation to explore developing a new program (examples discussed included aviation and expanded small‑engines work tied to local airport partnerships). Verra described outreach to local industry, including Airiam (an aviation company) and regional employers, to create work‑based learning and apprenticeship pathways. \"We successfully presented this budget in front of Palisades and Quakertown... we serve the needs of preschool districts, and we want to make sure that it represents everyone's,\" Verra said.

UPCTS staff told the committee they expect about $1.06 million in state vocational subsidy for 2025–26 and noted uncertainty in federal and Perkins funding levels. Perkins funding for the center was estimated at about $146,000 for the coming year; leaders said Perkins typically pays a share of instructor costs and may be used for facilitator salaries or equipment in different centers.

Administrators presented the technical school's 2023–24 surplus and fund balance situation: a 2023–24 operating surplus of about $896,000 plus previously assigned balances left the center with approximately $870,000 of excess funds available. The joint operating committee (JOC) must decide whether to assign those funds to capital projects, return them to member districts, or set aside for other uses. Members of the Pennridge board and the UPCTS presenters discussed whether the excess should be returned to sending districts or held for capital and program investments; presenters said the JOC will deliberate once the final audit document is received.

Officials also discussed the technical school's long‑term facility plan and capital needs. Verra and finance staff said recent capital work (including roof and control system projects) and the center's long‑range plan will inform future capital requests. The presentation noted a planned capital request of about $113,000 for 2025–26 items and an additional capital replacement program.

Committee members and presenters debated whether JOC should return surplus funds to sending districts or assign them to long‑term facilities or programming. No formal action was taken by the Pennridge committee; UPCTS leaders said the JOC will deliberate and vote on the disposition of the 2023–24 excess after the audit is filed.","Leaders of Upper West County Technical School presented a proposed 2025–26 spending plan that uses reserves to cover a planned deficit, outlines new programs including a fire program and expanded transportation/aviation pathways, and described a roughly $870,000 surplus carried from 2023–24 to be allocated by the joint operating committee.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6643119,"Pennridge auditor says district will receive clean opinion for 2023–24",809,227000,1036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162&start=227&end=1036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2532590-a3cec0040963514f1ba77bbcb0104162/thumbnail_227000.jpg","/articles/6643119/Pennsylvania/Pennridge-auditor-says-district-will-receive-clean-opinion-for-202324","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6643119-d97fd90e815c2ac94a689d25e8d8b943/orig.mp4?Expires=1775227184&Signature=BruaKCTNP2O4MWySqOkBtQd7h6iweR0nVuqGLaYZk21d5v8pMUhyGGET0zx9ag4c-eNFNUEdjDPAv7LvF8HRM~TpbDIo-4-wSd9-pgZc4VXYrjHgGDin9f0f7cpLh8dZzQ51d2YLObFh2dLpL3JOo83Cuq4veqTo4Rd36aLkVFNJ9jYroPbCoF429fCDZu1iK5eyzXckxsKhOXncXzQ2E0t5pbuJLuez7rXsUoyR0q2YAdKg8T7IvYUixyhM~gPfJ2iHQTSjBZMyE-xlPNevsueeCn0EHy8VByIxeVMiQewYdCuibzcClT~ljYHBMVuq1OVAvxDDu2PnZO35M-yZ3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pennridge School District's independent auditor said the firm expects to issue unmodified, or \"clean,\" audit opinions on the district's financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024.

Tim Sawyer of Barber King Thornton told the district's Finance Committee on March 10 that the audit fieldwork began in October and has run through March. \"We are prepared to issue unmodified or clean audit opinions on your opinion units,\" Sawyer said, referring to governmental and business‑type activities, major funds and the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards.

Sawyer told the committee that expanded testing of expenditures uncovered no issues with internal controls and that the firm did not identify material weaknesses or significant deficiencies. He also said the district's single‑audit testing of its major federal program, the special education cluster, produced no compliance findings. \"Based on our auditing procedures, we are not aware of any fraud or legal acts here at the district,\" Sawyer said.

The presentation noted changes in the district's balance sheet compared with the prior year: cash and cash equivalents held steady around $18 million, investments declined from about $48 million to $37 million as capital projects drew cash, receivables rose from about $3.3 million to $4.3 million (which Sawyer described as timing issues), and capital assets, net of depreciation, increased by roughly $6 million due mainly to construction‑in‑progress tied to multiple projects including work at the high school, middle school parking, an operations garage, an energy project, campus signage and elementary renovations.

On the liability side, accounts payable decreased modestly to about $4.6 million, accrued salaries rose to about $17 million and long‑term debt decreased from roughly $40.1 million to $27.7 million, reflecting scheduled principal payments. The auditor noted the district's net deficit on the government‑wide statement decreased from about $19.3 million to roughly $5.5 million.

Sawyer said the data‑collection form for the Federal Audit Clearinghouse will be filed by the March 31 deadline and the required single‑audit reporting package will be sent to the state. He said the supplemental information reviewed by the auditors was consistent with the financial statements. The board was told the formal audit document will be delivered to the district when finalized and that the audit is an informational item to be received by the board rather than a voting item.

Board and staff speakers praised the finance team after the presentation. The committee chair said the audit report would be shared with the full board once received.

The committee did not take any formal vote on the audit report during the meeting; auditors typically present and the board later takes the audit report on record.","An independent auditor told the Pennridge School District finance committee that Barber King Thornton intends to issue unmodified (clean) opinions on the district's financial statements for the 2023–24 fiscal year and reported no material weaknesses or single‑audit compliance findings for major federal programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pennridge Finance Committee flags $5.7M budget gap; staff outline savings and potential tax options

Pennridge transportation staff outline bus replacement plan and rising costs in 2025–26 budget

Upper West County Technical School presents budget, enrollment and program expansion plans

Pennridge auditor says district will receive clean opinion for 2023–24