Last Thursday, the Quakertown Community School District Board of Directors adopted the 2019-2020 proposed final budget for release and advertisement. At just over $114 million, the proposed budget increases taxes in the district by 2.7%.

            During a presentation before adoption, Director Kaylyn Mitchell explained that the tax increase is based upon an overall increase in costs to the district.

            "When you are seeing tax increases over every single year, I know that can be painful," Mitchell said. "But we also want the public to understand that our costs go up every single year."

            Primary cost drivers of the expenditure increase, beyond staff salaries and benefits, include an increase in the district's contribution to the Upper Bucks County Technical School.

            Just under $770,000 of the staffing increase is dedicated to funding five new full-time positions. Preliminary plans include hiring a special education teacher and behavior analysist for The Academy, the district's alternative education program. Three other positions include a health and physical education teacher, a Mandarin teacher and an elementary special education teacher.

            While the five full-time employee (FTE) positions will be approved once the final budget is adopted, the final decision on specific positions is left to administration. Director Keith Micucci expressed concerns over the possibility of the FTEs being used for different positions once the budget is approved.

            "This has nothing to do with trust; this has everything to do with spending," Micucci said.

            Mitchell suggested the board look at policy changes in the future that might allow for more board input around use of budgeted funds for FTEs.

            "And just because it is in the budget doesn't mean we have to spend it," Mitchell added.

            Superintendent William Harner added that the administration has identified candidates for all positions except the Mandarin teacher at this time.

            The budget as proposed also adds five instructional aides.

            Other 2019-2020 priorities include a renovation and addition project for Neidig Elementary as well as district-wide safety enhancements. These enhancements will include $20,000 toward a vulnerability assessment and the development of a security coordinator position.

            The proposed 2.7% tax increase will increase revenue by just over $2 million. The millage rate in Quakertown School District will go from 164.39 to 168.83.

            A final budget is expected to be adopted on June 6.