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District finance director outlines peer comparisons, state budget uncertainty and rising special‑education and health costs
Summary
Finance director Tom Strickler presented peer‑group comparisons, the governor’s proposed education budget, and federal funding uncertainty; the presentation highlighted that Elizabethtown spends relatively low per pupil in regular education but higher on special education, and flagged a growing shortfall in the district health insurance fund.
Tom Strickler, the district finance director, briefed the Elizabethtown Area School District board Feb. 25 on peer‑group budget comparisons, the governor’s proposed education budget and several revenue risks that could affect the 2024‑25 budget.
Strickler said the district used two peer groups — IU 13 peers and a five‑county comparison set — to assess taxes, revenue and spending. “When you're looking at somebody who has a much larger tax base or a much larger student body … it makes it difficult to see if we're making appropriate decisions when we're comparing,” he told the board as he walked through assessed value, millage and equalized mill comparisons.
On spending, Strickler said Elizabethtown ranks lower in per‑pupil spending for regular education but moves toward the upper half for special education costs. “Where do we stand? Are we spending exorbitantly on students or not really? Looks to me like in the regular ed…
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