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Kutztown Area SD budget committee outlines referendum timeline, tax scenarios and staffing plan
Summary
At an April 28 budget finance meeting, district presenters outlined a May 20 referendum, a 4% scenario showing a $410,000 shortfall, and a referendum scenario that would add revenue allowing the district to preserve staffing and cover planned debt restructuring and a new transportation contract.
Christian, the meeting presenter, told the Budget Finance Committee on April 28 that the district will adopt a preliminary budget in about a month and a final budget roughly 60 days later, and that the May 20 referendum will determine the district's path forward. "Approximately 1 month from now, you will be adopting the preliminary budget," he said, and noted the committee aims to send a taxpayer communication on May 6 explaining referendum and non‑referendum outcomes.
Why it matters: The committee is deciding whether to hold a referendum that would change the district's revenue baseline. Christian summarized three scenarios and the pieces that could alter the final numbers, including a transportation contract and debt restructuring tied to facilities work. Under a 4% tax increase scenario the presenter said the district would face a $410,000 deficit; in contrast, he said the referendum question as currently written would ask for a 10.6297% increase and generate substantially more revenue above the 4% baseline.
Key facts: Christian said one percentage point of tax change is roughly $220,000 in additional revenue based on the district's average assessed value and that the additional revenue above 4% under the referendum is about $1,449,000. He recommended maintaining about 117 full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions, including an ELL position and three elementary sections, and preserving the director of curriculum post. He also said a planned debt restructure could remove about $229,000 from this year’s bottom line and that a new transportation contract will be on the June 5 agenda.
Committee questions and context: Committee members pressed on what the baseline numbers include and whether raises for teachers were embedded; Christian said the 4% scenario assumes current agreements extend into next year and that the figures include the staffing changes discussed previously. He also acknowledged continuing unknowns — final state budget actions, assessment updates and other contracts — that could alter the preliminary numbers before final adoption.
Next steps: The committee was told it will meet again for budget updates on May 5 and May 21, with a more substantive review May 27. Christian said the administration will circulate a single, districtwide communication to taxpayers on May 6 comparing the referendum question to the non‑referendum alternative. The committee moved and seconded a motion to adjourn at the meeting's close.
