Board approves $20.9M budget
Posted: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 12:00 am
bucks county technical high school
The proposed spending plan will have to be approved by the Bristol, Bristol Township, Bensalem, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school boards.
The Bucks County Technical High School joint school board Monday approved a 2011-2012 budget of about $20.9 million.
The proposed budget will have to be approved by the Bristol, Bristol Township, Bensalem, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school boards - whose districts send students and funds to BCTHS - in order to be finalized.
The final numbers come in at $580,956 less than the current 2010-2011 budget, officials said Monday.
Twenty staff positions would be eliminated from all levels and departments, including three teachers.
"These are tough times, but we'll fight through this," said administrative director Leon Poeske. "This is a place where careers do begin."
Some of the other cost savings featured in Monday's budget presentation include about $42,000 resulting from modified contracts with copy machine vendors and $185,000 coming from an early retirement incentive plan offered to certain employees.
A motion to approve the budget passed 8-4, with joint board members John Buckman of Morrisville, Rick Eccles and Mike Morris of Neshaminy and John Doyle of Bristol voting no.
Eccles objected to an amendment to the budget motion from Pennsbury board member Gene Dolnick that called for any Social Security funds that might be restored in Gov. Corbett's proposed state budget be used for paying for any increase to the Public School Employees Retirement System.
Eccles added that it would be irresponsible to think of making decisions "based on ifs" and money that might not come in.
In other business, Dolnick moved that the board pursue a lien against the Morrisville School District to secure the district's scheduled payment to BCTHS for 2010-2011.
Morrisville is holding most of its $767,000 payment in escrow in protest over the technical school funding formula and other concerns.
The issue is currently in litigation.
Morrisville school board member John Buckman said that, among other concerns listed in the court complaint, Morrisville wants more representation on the technical school's joint board.
Only one representative each from Bristol and Morrisville sits on the joint board, while the other, larger districts each have three members.
Dolnick's motion failed after only seven board members Monday voted in favor of the lien. A motion needs eight votes to pass, according to joint board policy.
Christian Menno can be reached at 215-269-5081 or cmenno@phillyBurbs.com Follow Christian on Twitter atTwitter.com/cmenno_courier
3 comments:
At least now we know why the dirty SOCs are holding back the money. It's a maneuver to get more seats on the board.
THE FINAL VOTE FOR THE 2011-12 BUCKS COUNTY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL BUDGET MONDAY WAS 10-2, WITH JOINT BOARD MEMBERS JOHN DOYLE AND JOHN BUCKMAN VOTING NO.
Posted: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 12:00 am
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The final vote for the 2011-12 Bucks County Technical High School budget Monday was 10-2, with joint board members John Doyle and John Buckman voting no. Incorrect information appeared in Tuesday's paper.
What Buckman didn't tell the board during the last tech update was that the Auditorium erupted in applause for Neshaminys rep when he told Buckman he wasn't supporting us when he voted No to the Lein. He voted No because he couldn't see hurting the morrisville taxpayers again with more legal bills and believes what Morrisville is doing is dispicable.
Don't tell me this issue does not affect the kids when everyone in a room is against our school and cheering and appluading when we are called dispicable!
Yea, thats the way to feel proud of your town, your school and your leaders!
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