CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Area school board approved its tentative 2020-21 budget during a virtual meeting on Monday night.
The district’s financial plan calls for $39,047,915 in total revenues and $42,843,426 in total expenditures, resulting in a $3,795,511 deficit.
Despite the projected upcoming-year deficit, both Superintendent Terry Struble and Business Administrator Sam Maney recommended no tax increase due to the COVID-19 emergency, and the board concurred.
Maney said the proposed budget has a 1.75 percent, or $696,368, decrease in revenues and a .22 percent, or $96,031, decrease in expenditures from the projected 2019-20 budget.
Currently, he’s projecting a small deficit of about $62,075 for the current year, which he believes could possibly turn out to be lower or even flat.
He said the district’s fund balance is projected to be $14,005,257 on June 30, and if the projected deficit is realized, it would drop to $10,209,746 at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year.
Struble said the board could have raised millage to 104.636, the adjusted state index, but did not due to having a healthy fund balance and to give taxpayers relief during the COVID-19 crisis.
So, under the budget proposal, real estate millage will remain at 101 mills, and according to Maney, the district receives approximately $137,000 per mill of real estate taxes.
In addition to the proposed general fund budget, the board also tentatively approved a Capital Project Fund budget totaling $492,000 and a Cafeteria Fund Budget totaling $1,622,341.
The budget will now go on public display for 30 days and come back before the board for final approval at its next regular meeting scheduled for June 22.
Real Estate Tax Collection Calendar
Also, on Monday night, the board authorized Maney to have adjustments made to the 2020 school real estate tax collection calendar due to COVID-19.
Maney said while the district cannot adjust the discount period, it can eliminate the penalty period. He said the discount period will still begin Aug. 3 and end Oct. 2.
The board authorized Maney to have the face period begin Oct. 3 and end Dec. 31, eliminating the penalty period and giving taxpayers an extra month to pay real estate taxes.
Maney stressed that the adjusted calendar will apply to the 2020 real estate tax collection only, and after Dec. 31, delinquent taxes will be turned over to the county for collection.
Director of Special Education to Retire
The board also approved the resignation of Thomas Mohney, director of special education, for the purposes of retirement, beginning on July 1.
Mohney, however, will use his accrued sick leave, which will extend the actual date of his retirement to Dec. 11, according to board documents.
Struble said Mohney will finish up his career with about 33.5 years in education. He said Mohney started subbing right out of college in December of 1986.
He said Mohney joined the district in 1987 and served as a special education learning support teacher at the Clearfield High School for about 10 years.
About 23 years ago, Struble said Mohney became the district’s inaugural special education director. “He’s gotten us to where we’re at now and all we do for our kids.
“That’s second to none because … a lot of districts all call Tom for answers to their questions and problems and also for his guidance. It’s not going to be easy shoes to fill.”
The board also approved the resignation of Mary Albright, accounts payable secretary, for retirement purposes after about 39 years of services.