Council Rock Adopts Budget, Passes 2.64 Percent Tax Increase

NEWTOWN, PA — Real estate taxes will increase 2.64 percent under a 2024-25 budget adopted by the Council Rock School Board at its June meeting.

The board voted 6 to 3 to approve the $279,588,626 spending plan that will boost the average tax bill by $166 on a home with an average assessed value of $45,967.

The 2.64 percent tax increase includes .55 percent ($1.1 million) for additional positions, .53 percent ($959,425) for deficit reduction, .56 percent ($1 million) for full day kindergarten and one percent ($1.8 million) for debt service to pay for future construction projects.

The overall budget has revenues of $277,641,099 and total expenditures of $279,588,626 with a budgeted deficit of $1,947,527.

The spending plan will fund the addition of Student Resource Officers as the district’s middle schools, maintains the same rates for health insurance, converts technology integration specialists from grant funded to regular positions, and includes a budgetary reserve of $500,000.

"One of the things we looked at with this budget was our staffing and where we could improve, especially educationally," said the district's business manager Tony Rapp.

The budget allocates more than $1 million in new positions including a supervisor of curriculum and development (special education), two English Language Development specialists, a new STEAM teacher, a math specialist, a data analyst, a Human Resources supervisor, an end point technician and two middle school hall monitors.

“Every one of these positions, even the Human Resources supervisor, is going to reach and impact students in some way,” said Rapp. “These are very kid-centered positions that we are adding.”

The spending plan also budgets for the addition of four additional positions, two teachers on special assignment at the elementary level and two assistant athletic directors. Those positions, expected to cost $385,210, will be funded initially through the district’s $8 million educational initiatives fund balance.

Voting to approve the spending plan were board president Yota Palli and members Tracy Osecki, Nicole Khan, Linda Stone, Ed Tate, and Joe Hidalgo. Voting against the budget were Anne Horner, Mike Roosevelt and Bob Hickey.

“A 2.64 percent increase is well below the Act 1 Index of 5.3 percent, which is what many neighboring districts are passing. 2.64 percent is also below the rate of inflation,” board president Yota Palli said in support of the budget.

“Our district is making smart choices and tightening our belt rather than pass the full cost of inflation to taxpayers,” Palli continued. “It includes a .56 percent increase for full-day kindergarten. It includes money to pay for additional positions. And one percent for debt service
to better prepare for future capital projects. Our administration did not have to propose that but I think it’s the right thing to do so we’re better prepared for the future instead of trying to play catch up.”

Board member Joe Hidalgo joined the majority in voting for the budget.

“Because I voted to support full-day kindergarten I will be a yes vote. That allocation pushes it above the two percent that I’ve always advocated for,” said Hidalgo, “My feeling is if we’re going too far this time we can pull back and lower future increases.”

Roosevelt said while the tax increase is lower than some surrounding districts, “it is higher than this district’s recent and predictable range, which has been closer to 2 percent. The budget would be two percent if it didn’t include increases for full-day kindergarten.

“While I’m not opposed to investing in education or in full-day kindergarten, I don’t support a tax increase of 2.5 percent or higher at this time,” said Roosevelt. “This puts additional tax burden on a community of families struggling with inflation, struggling with fixed incomes, struggling to give children the educational assistance they need.”

Board member Bob Hickey echoed Roosevelt’s comments and commended the business department for its work on the budget. “However, because I voted against full-day kindergarten I can’t support paying for it. If you take that .56 out it brings us down to a 2.08 increase, which would be in line with the last few years.”