When: Columbia Borough School District board meeting, May 6.
What happened: The board adopted a $27.57 million proposed general fund budget for the 2021-22 school year with no tax increase.
Overview: The school districtâs real estate tax rate is set at 26.46 mills. Taxpayers with an average assessed property would pay $2,470. Overall, the district projects revenues of $26.69 million, up 2.29% from 2020-21, and predicts $27.57 million in expenses, up 1.59% from the current year. District reserves would be used to cover an estimated $878,982 deficit between revenues and expenses.
Expenses: The $432,782 rise in expenses is attributed to a $420,000 increase in cybercharter tuition. The district will reserve $1.5 million for charter school services and $315,000 for tuition to River Rock Academy, same as the current year. The district will also add a new assistant to the superintendent, salaried at $110,000; technology support specialist, $35,000; autistic support teacher, $55,000; fill six other vacant positions; and increased salaries 3.0% for administrative and 3.20% for professional staff.