With the recent adoption of a $227 million preliminary spending plan and planned tax increase for the 2016-2017 school year, the Council Rock School District will be hosting a public forum on the budget this week.
The budget forum will be held Wednesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m. in The Chancellor Center on North Chancellor in Newtown Borough. The forum will give the community a chance to learn more and voice their opinion on the possible 2.4 percent tax increase and proposed budget reductions.
According to district officials, the proposed tax increase means the average taxpayer would see their property tax bill increase by roughly $106 next year. The potential increase does not go above the Act 1 limit of 2.4 percent because the school board did not pass a resolution to raise taxes above the state-mandated limit.
Despite a proposed tax increase, the 2016-2017 still features a deficit of close to $5 million, officials said last month. The figure is significantly down from the $14 million deficit earlier this year.
According to state law, Council Rock has to have a balanced budget in place by the end of June.