Tuesday, March 5, 2013
In an attempt to diminish a budget shortfall, the Hatboro-Horsham School District may reduce some of its existing school bus routes.
As the Hatboro-Horsham School District stares down a deficit in its nearly $90 million 2013-14 spending plan, officials are working to ensure every bus ride and every route count. To help close the shortfall, the district is considering scaling back the existing 4:15 p.m. pickup at Keith Valley Middle School from five days to once a week, according to Director of Business Affairs Bob Reichert. That alone would save the district $25,000 a year, Reichert told the board during Monday night's work session. And since the roughly 45 kids on the buses at those times are either coming from a club or detention, Reichert said the school could schedule everything for one day. "We could still make it all work with the other available buses," Reichert …
Hatboro-Horsham School District considers replacing its contracted counselors with existing teaching staff.
Is it better for students struggling with school-related stress, drugs, alcohol and other issues to talk to a teacher, or someone "outside" of the school? As officials consider trading contracted counselors for in-house staff as a cost-saving measure, that was the question several inquired about during Monday night's school board work session. Hatboro-Horsham High School Principal Dennis Williams, in a brief presentation Monday night, suggested that the district save roughly $85,000 a year by replacing two contracted counselors with four or five district teachers who he said are trained and certified through the state's Student Assistance Program to guide students through what the state deems "barriers to learning." "We can effectively and…
Monday, March 4, 2013
The Hatboro-Horsham School board is considering implementing a 'one-time fee' for student athletes and band members.
Playing sports and participating in the marching band could become more expensive if the Hatboro-Horsham School Board moves forward with a proposal to implement student activity fees. District officials are mulling over the possibility of charging a $100 "one-time fee" per student athlete or band participant. The fee would cover the student's participation in as many activities as he or she wishes, officials said during Monday night's school board work session. For more news and updates about Hatboro and Horsham, subscribe to our free newsletter,"like" us on Facebook or follow @Hatboropatch on Twitter. Based on that rate, the measure, if put into place, would raise $88,100 a year, according to figures Director of Business …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
With a 1.7 percent tax increase figured in, Hatboro-Horsham School District is facing a $1.3 million budget shortfall.
Hatboro-Horsham School District administrators painted a bleak picture of its nearly $90 million 2013-2014 spending plan which, as presented Tuesday, warrants the reduction of staff in an effort to balance the budget. Without a tax increase, Hatboro-Horsham is facing a $2.2 million shortfall, according to Robert Reichert, the district's director of business affairs, who gave his second of five budget presentations during Tuesday night's school board meeting. The board is required by law to adopt a balanced budget by June 30. With a 1.7 percent tax boost - the amount permitted under Act 1 - the district is still facing a $1.3 million deficit, he said. And since salary and benefits make up roughly 77 percent of the district's annual spending…
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick voted for the deal, which maintains income tax rates for people making less than $400,000 and couples earning less than $450,000 a year.
After months of negotiating, arguing and handwringing, the United States avoided tumbling over the dreaded fiscal cliff Tuesday night when the House of Representatives passed the Senate proposal by a 257-167 vote, CNN reports. After House Speaker John Boehner spiked an idea to re-open the Senate deal to add more spending cuts, Congress approved the measure with 172 votes from Democrats and 85 from Republicans, including Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8). "In August 2012, I voted to extend tax rates and other tax provisions for all taxpayers - a measure which the Senate refused to take up," said Fitzpatrick in a statement released by his office. "Throughout the fiscal cliff debate, my number one priority has been to maintain the lowest rates …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
By staying under the state cap, Hatboro-Horsham School District won’t have to seek exceptions or go to referendum to approve its budget.
- GOVERNMENT
- Joe Ferry
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Tuesday, December 18, 2012
If the Hatboro-Horsham school board hikes the property tax rate in 2013-2014, it won’t be above the state-imposed cap. The board voted unanimously Monday to approve a resolution informing the state it intends to keep any increases to 1.7 percent or below, the limit before exceptions or referendum come into play. Although the board won’t see budget figures for the first time until next month, Robert A. Reichert, director of business affairs for the district, said he is confident of staying below the cap. The district has never sought exceptions or been forced into a referendum, he said. “When the smoke clears, we’ll be under the index again,” said Reichert. “The board does not want to put any additional burdens on the taxpayer. Over the …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Shapiro: $413.8 million budget is 'an honest game of chess, not cheating at checkers.'
Montgomery County officials on Thursday unveiled a proposed $413.8 million county budget for 2013 that includes no increase in county real estate taxes and sets aside $2.5 million to begin replenishing the county's depleted cash reserves. Board of Commissioners Chairman Josh Shapiro called the budget "honest" while county CFO Uri Monson characterized it as a "first step" toward solving the county's fiscal woes, which have drained the county's reserves and led to downgrades from credit rating authorities. Shapiro said the $2.5 million allocation to the reserves was "a serious down payment on the future." "When our predecessors took office, their reserve fund stood at $100 million," Shapiro said. "When we took office it was a mere $20 …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Horsham Council will vote on its $14 million budget in mid-December.
If Horsham’s proposed 2013 budget remains on track, residents will not be asked to contribute any additional tax money next year. The budget, unveiled before Township Council Monday night, does not call for any tax hikes. The budget — which totals $14,195,854 — includes a 5 percent increase in expenditures. Township Manager Bill Walker, however, said the increases are minor. Walker said borough staff began working on the budget in July and were committed to keeping expenses low. “It’s still very conservative,” he said. “We’re not paving as many roads as we could or doing as many park improvements because of how the economy and market are right now. So we have continued to be conservative.” Walker said council will further examine the …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Despite being prevented by police from protesting in front of the prison, the movement voiced their concerns regarding Governor Corbett’s priorities.
Decarcerate Pennsylvania protested the Graterford Prison expansion on Tuesday, though it was semi-thwarted when members of the Pennsylvania State Police prevented them from walking onto the Graterford complex. The group had initially planned to meet at Perkiomen Valley High School and walk to the prison entrance, but state police prevented them from making the trek citing safety concerns. “We prevented them from obstructing the highway – we did it for their safety,” said a Pennsylvania State Police Trooper. “People are going to start looking at them, and not pay attention to the way they are driving, so it is an issue of safety.” Despite the concerns from police, Decarcerate Pennsylvania member Hakim Ali believes that the police were not …
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The protest seeks to raise awareness of the $400 million Graterford Prison expansion at a time when the state is cutting budgets elsewhere.
Members of the Decarcerate Pennsylvania movement will once again take aim at Governor Corbett on Tuesday afternoon, as a planned protest seeks to raise awareness to the $400 million Graterford Prison expansion at a time when state funding for education and health services is on the decline. "Governor Corbett just began construction of two new prisons on the grounds of SCI Graterford in Montgomery County," reads a recent posting on the DecarceratePA Web site. "Meanwhile, Corbett has slashed hundreds of millions of dollars from education, environmental protection, homeowners assistance, and healthcare and mental health services." As previously reported by Patch, the construction project at Graterford will establish two new prison facilities …
Diane Czerviski
11:27 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
I have 2 kids in HH school district. I occassionally have to drive them in the AM because they are late or sick etc. Same in the PM. I sometimes have to pick them up. I am amazed at how many people drive their kids to school daily both ways. They aren't even utilizing the buses. The car line at Simmons is like 1/4 mile long to pick up. In Philadelphia, buses are not part of your school tax … more ›