Schools
$177M Budget Adopted 7-2 By Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board
The board approved the 2023-2024 spending plan that calls for a 3.5 increase in real estate taxes.
TREDYFFRIN/EASTTOWN, PA —Tredyffrin/Easttown school board voted 7-2 Monday night to approve a budget of $177 million for the 2023-24 school year with a 3.5 percent property tax increase.
Arthur J. McDonnell, business manager, said the increase would amount to $235 for the average homeowner in the district.
The tax rate is levied at 26.7 mills, which amounts to $26.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Board members Michele Burger and Dr. Robert Singh voted against the budget.
Burger questioned why the state doesn’t provide that amount of funding provided to the district before the budget adoption.
Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The budget did not include adding funds for five new school security guards as presented in the preliminary budget.
The increase from last year’s spending plan includes costs for healthcare benefits and staffing additions.
Dr. Richard Gusick, the superintendent, said the district provides instruction to 69,037 students this year.
He said the budget reflects the projected increase in enrollment next year, including an increase in staff including more school psychologists and science teachers.
The district is also providing courses that will allow students to obtain college credits.
The capital budget includes costs for new athletic fields and the start of a 10-year program to improve playgrounds at elementary schools.
The superintendent noted that numerous students have achieved academic honors including 37 national merit semifinals, more than any school in Pennsylvania. He also mentioned numerous achievements in music and athletics, including state championships.
McDonnell said that the average annual school taxes paid in Tredyffrin/Easttown this year is $6,636.
The manager said that the district does not collect an earned income tax.
The district is also considering the possibility of a new elementary school to deal with overcrowding issues.
The plan for a new elementary school has not been decided and is not included in the 2023-2024 school budget.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
