School Board Adopts Preliminary Budget

The Bethlehem Area School Board on Monday night voted to approve a preliminary budget that would call for a 6.16 percent real estate tax increase for the next school year.

With this preliminary approval, the district will be seeking taxing exceptions under Act 1 that will allow it to raise taxes beyond its state education index of 1.7 percent.

The vote to approve the budget was 6-2 in favor, with directors Rosario Amato and Irene Follweiler voting against. , they voiced objections to applying for the exceptions to allow a higher tax increase.

Voting in favor was board President Michelle Cann, Vice President William J. Burkhardt, and directors Michael Faccinetto, Eugene McKeon, Aurea Ortiz and Benjamin M. Tenaglia III. Director Loretta Leeson was absent from the meeting.

There was very little discussion before the vote, though McKeon brought up to freeze some state spending for the remainder of the year.

The governor’s plan, which includes using federal money to replace state spending in certain areas, will need to be approved by the state Legislature before it can be implemented, said Superintendent Joseph J. Roy.

However, he said this illustrates the point he made about maintaining financial flexibility for as long as possible until final budget adoption in June. Roy had used this as an argument for at least applying for state education exceptions, even if the board decides not to use them.

At a budget workshop in January, most board members said they wanted to bring the tax rate down to the state index level by the time final adoption is made.

Currently, even with a 6.16 percent increase, the district would experience a shortfall based on current projected expenses and state subsidies. Absent an unexpected funding source or an increase in state subsidies, the board may have to look at making significant spending cuts by June.