EASD 2011-12 Budget Passes Unanimously

A week before the state deadline, the Easton Area School Board passed its 2011-12 budget in a unanimous vote at its regular meeting Thursday evening.

The budget calls for $132.76 million in expenditures, a 0.93 percent increase over last year. It leaves a gap of just over $2.11 million, which will be covered by reserve funds, district officials have said.

In the case that Harrisburg restores funds to local schools, the money will be used to cover the shortfall, said EASD Business Manager Marie Guidry.

“We have no idea what they're going to do. They could increase it, or, it could remain flat,” Guidry said.

The budget will require a 1.76 percent tax increase, or the maximum allowable by law, in Northampton County. Residents living in Bucks County that attend the EASD will see a 0.72 percent decrease in school taxes due to an adjustment for a previous increase in Bucks rates. The adjustments equate to an increase of $46.10 for a property assessed at $50,000 in Northampton County, and a decrease of $58.65 for a $50,000 property in Bucks.

Also to close the gap, originally more than $11 million, earlier this year and other concessions in exchange for the guarantee the district would not cut their jobs.

Though its passage had been on June 16 called specially to pass it after board members Jennifer Holzberger and Kerri Leonard-Ellison had last-minute questions, the budget passed Thursday evening with little comment from school directors.