State Budget Stalemate to Impact KCSD
The update came at the school board’s Thursday meeting and Hanna had mostly bad news, including word that the financial pinch is about to hit the district:
“I know you all are aware that we currently have a state budget impasse and my presence in being here is to talk with you firsthand about that impasse. I did have the opportunity to talk with the governor and members of his staff earlier this week, and in response to questions I had about immediate impacts that school districts were expecting to have; I was told that appropriations the legislature needs to approve includes some payments that you were expecting by August 15. You are likely to not have those payments come in since a state legislative budget approval will not occur by that time.”
Hannah continued, “I wanted to express my concern that we need to get the impasse resolved as soon as possible, not just for education and Keystone Central but for all of our state constituents. Human resource services have already started to feel some cutbacks.”
The Lock Haven Democrat reiterated his support for the budget proposed by Democratic governor Tom Wolf: “I think this is a budget fight that is worth having. The governor has proposed significant increases for education and as all of you know over the course of the past six years, at least since 2008, it’s been very difficult for our school districts and higher education to sustain the cuts that have come to all of you. It’s six years later and it’s time for that to stop.”
Hannah continued, “It’s time that we reverse those cutbacks. The governor’s proposal couldn’t do that in a single year. He proposed that it would be done over a series of years. But he proposed that this first year would include $400 million for basic, special, pre-k education and higher education. I think that’s worth fighting for and I think we are narrowing the differences between the Republicans (controlling the legislature) and the governor.
Hannah said the one thing the governor refuses to compromise on is Wolf’s call for an increase for basic education. “He continues to say that is his number one priority, and he is going to fight to get that for our school districts.”
The school board also expressed concern to Hanna on the large property taxes required of the public.
Wayne Koch, KCSD board member said, “We’re practically breaking the backs of the tax payers.”
Hannah said “The governor proposes $3.8 billion in school property tax relief. For Keystone Central it could provide $1.7 million in relief and up to $870 in relief for the average home owner.”
Meanwhile Keystone Central prepares for the start of the new school year later this month. Superintendent Kelly Hastings said, “It’s coming down to the wire and I can’t believe it, but we are in full back to school mode. We are gearing up for the students to show up and there are a lot of great things happening. The teachers did excellent work over the summer completing the curriculum.”
Hastings concluded the meeting and addressed the public, “Often time’s money is always an issue. Mike Hanna was here talking about money and those kind of things. But I think that we just have to remember that investing in our students and investing in our school district is money well spent. Putting money there now solves a lot of problems later. Sometimes you have to spend some money in order to get things onto the trajectory you want them on.”
