Credit: The Reporter.
The budget increased spending on salaries and educational programs.
The Pennridge School District Administration together with the School Board of Directors announced details of the 2024-2025 Final General Fund Budget and described it as a fiscally sound spending plan that provides a strong foundation to support current programs and initiatives while preparing the Pennridge School District for the future with no additional tax increases for the residents of the Pennridge District municipalities.
The proposed budget for the general fund totals more than $159.1 million and represents Pennridge’s eighth consecutive balanced budget without the need to increase local tax rates.
The final budget was unanimously approved by the School Board of Directors during the June monthly meeting. The balanced 2024-2025 General Fund budget also includes an increase in spending of $4.5 million or 2.9 percent from the FY2024 Budget of $154.6 million.
"I am incredibly proud that we have once again achieved a balanced budget without a tax increase while maintaining the integrity of our academic programs,” Pennridge Superintendent Angelo Berrios said. “With inflationary pressures and rising costs of goods and services, our team’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and delivering high-quality programs for our students is truly commendable. This balanced budget underscores our dedication to providing excellent educational opportunities while being mindful of the financial realities faced by our community."
Pennridge School Board of Directors President Ron Wurz also expressed his enthusiasm for the news.
“I am thrilled that we have been able avoid a tax increase while still keeping our facilities in great shape, adding new educational opportunities and raising salaries to make sure we are competitive in the marketplace. These results are a testament to our excellent financial team and administration,” he said.
Public discussions on the budget, which began in November 2023, largely led by Pennridge Chief Operating Officer Sean Daubert and Berrios are available on the district’s RNN- On Demand YouTube channel as well as the School Board’s monthly updates.
Viewers of these resources as well as the District’s Board Docs page can see a series of monthly budget presentations from each department that outlines their expenses and revenues for the next year. Those monthly departmental reports yielded a draft budget the board gave preliminary approval to in May. A copy of the final budget is available online.
There are many highlights in the 2024-2025 Pennridge School District budget including:
Maintaining ESSER Funded Positions: The 2024-2025 budget includes funds to maintain six teaching positions and nine teaching assistant positions previously funded with Federal ESSERS Funds. Pandemic-related funding for public school districts is quickly ending, and Districts must obligate ESSER III funds by September 2024.
The Pennridge School District has utilized over $2 million of pandemic-related funding annually since the pandemic to fund several teaching and support positions as well as various after-school and summer remedial and enrichment programs throughout the district.
Despite that, the 2024-2025 Pennridge budget includes local funds to maintain and ensure that six teaching positions and nine teaching assistant positions that were previously funded with pandemic-related funds will remain guaranteed positions for our students
Funding for two employee collective bargaining agreements: During the 2023-2024 School Year, the Pennridge School District recently settled collective bargaining agreements with the Pennridge Education Association and the Pennridge Educational Support Professionals Association. These agreements contain significant resources for employee salaries needed to attract and retain highly qualified teachers and support professionals. These agreements aim to establish and maintain a competitive position throughout Bucks County regarding employee salaries.
Addition of a new position to support Special Education and Additional Security: The 2024-205 budget even afforded the addition of one special education teacher at the Secondary Level as well as the expansion of the district’s security force.
