Staff and Program Cuts Possible at Easton Schools

Earlier this year, Easton Area School Director Robert Moskaitis compared the district's continual budget troubles to Groundhog Day.

With the district facing yet another budget deficit —this time to the tune of nearly $5 million—business manager Michael Simonetta referenced the Bill Murray movie again Tuesday night as he gave the board its first look at the 2014/2015 budget.

Groundhog Day, in which Murray repeats the same day over and over, may be a comedy, but no one in Easton is laughing.

School officials were clear Tuesday about what the deficit could mean.

“I cannot say there will not be staff reductions," Simonetta told board members, cautioning them that budget couldn't be balanced by "cutting pencils and crayons."

And Superintendent John Reinhart said that while his administration would look at "different ways to doing business" in order to cut costs, anyone who thinks the district won't cut staff or programs “is not looking at the fiscal reality of this.”

Budget figures show the district bringing in a little over $136 million in 2014-2015, but spending $141 million.

The $4.9 million deficit is there even if the board approves a 2.7 percent property tax increase and takes $750,000 from district reserves.

The deficit would rise to $5.4 million with a 2.1 percent tax increase and $6.6 million with no tax increase.

Simonetta said some of the main factors behind the increase include $2.7 million for contractual salaries, $3.2 million in pension obligations and $500,000 for medical premiums.

The district has cut jobs in three of its last four budgets. The board has until June 30 to adopt the budget for the 2014/2015 school year, but has typically voted much earlier in the year.