No tax hike, wearing masks, discussed at Montoursville Area School District school board meeting

The 2021-22 budget for the Montoursville Area School District is projected to have no increase in real estate taxes for borough homeowners, according to a presentation to the school board by Brandy Smith, district business manager and board secretary.

In introducing the budget, Smith said, "Budgets are always a work in progress as you're looking through and finalizing the projections for next year."

Smith said that although no tax increase is expected, there is an increase in the revenue from real estate taxes of $26,580 which can be attributed to tax assessment changes.

Local revenue or monies that are generally produced, generated or collected with the boundaries of the district, which includes real estate taxes comprise 54.65 percent of the total estimated revenue of $32,073,426 for the next fiscal year. The earned income tax is also included in that category contributing a projected $4,000,000 by the end of the current fiscal year.

Other sources of revenue are state, 39.54 percent and federal, 5.81 percent.

Over half of the projected expenditures for 2021-22, or 57.1 percent, come from instructional activities dealing directly with the interaction between teachers and students. Included in that budget category are regular and special programs, vocational education and other instructional programs.

Support services account for 26.7 percent, non-instructional activities for 2.1 percent and other expenditures, such as debt services, at 14.1 percent, bring the estimated total expenditures for next fiscal year to $32,749,812, according to Smith's presentation.

Smith said that by the end of the current fiscal year, the district's fund balance is estimated to be at $4,191,240, which she characterized as "good-sized."

The recent presentation of the budget to the board is the first step in the process with the adoption of the proposed final budget expected at the May 11 board meeting. The board will review changes to the budget at their May 25 meeting with adoption of the final budget set for June 8.

Prior to the budget presentation, Board President David Shimmel addressed the issue of wearing masks while on school property, telling those in attendance due to the universal masking order from the Department of Health and the attestation that the district filed with the Department of Education agreeing to comply with that order, masks would have to worn,

"After reviewing those thoughts and the conversation I had with the superintendent last week and refreshing the implications of de-masking, it became glaringly apparent what that meant," he said.

"I forgot the implications of any discussion of removing masks, because in removing masks, we cannot comply with the universal mask order, can't comply with it in an in-person instructional setting," he said.

"The only way to de-mask is to go to remote learning and we don't like that. Moreover, going to remote learning means cancellation of prom, cancellation of award ceremonies, music concerts, graduation and lastly and important as well, all spring sports would terminate immediately if we go remote," he added.

During the meeting, which was classified as a work session, several students told the board that they felt safer wearing the masks and wanted to continue in order to be able to finish the short time left in the school year attending classes in person.

Several members of the district, including some board members spoke in opposition to continuing to require masks on school property.

The de-masking issue was first raised at a prior board meeting.