Zero Tax Increase Expected for East Penn 2013-14 Budget

Even the most conservative spenders on the East Penn Board of School Supervisors could not argue with the hopeful news Superintendent Thomas Seidenberger delivered at Monday's school board meeting.

"Our goal, unless something dramatic happens, is for no tax increase" in the 2013-14 school year budget, he said.

Seidenberger said the proposed final budget will be presented and voted on at the May 13 meeting. If it is approved, it will be on display for the required 30 days before the final vote on it in June.

"I'm entering this with degree of uncertainty," he said, since there are still variables surrounding legislative matters.

The budget -- which Seidenberger said was in the minds of school officials since "Day One," meaning the day after last year's budget went into effect—was to meet five goals:

• To be educationally sound and fiscally prudent
• To exhibit fiscal flexibility to external factors
• To improve the overall efficiency of the school district
• To meet demands of funded and unfunded mandates
• To maintain all academic instructional programs in 2013-14 school year

He was proudest of the last element, he said, for reasons alluded to during the public comment segment of the meeting.

Macungie resident Barbara Levinson suggested that the district needs to hire two teachers for Macungie Elementary School for the upcoming fourth and fifth grades. Currently all sections of the third and fourth grades contain more than 30 students.

"Class sizes are elevated and going forward we will continue to look at places that warrant new staff members," Seidenberger said.

The reasons for the good news stem from a couple of places. "We’ve done a marvelous job of arresting spending," he said.

But he also said that revenue may be coming from some new places. There's a warehouse under construction on Quarry Road that will bring $385,000 in new tax revenue.

"We're excited about that," he said, since it's a revenue source that does not increase enrollment.

Additionally, the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan surrounding the Hamilton Crossings development project in Lower Macungie could be substantially beneficial for the district, he said, but it still must be approved by Lehigh County, Lower Macungie Township and the school board before any benefit is realized.

The plan is available on the district's website, but more accurate numbers will be added to it by noon Tuesday, according to School Director Ken Bacher.