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CASD Board Adopts 0% Tax Increase Proposal for 2021-2022 Budget
Chambersburg Area School District (CASD) Superintendent Dr. Dion Betts, district administration, and the CASD school board of directors are working towards a 0% tax increase for the 2021-2022 General Fund budget. The proposal is the first in a multi-step process that culminates in a final budget approval at the June 8th Regular Board meeting.
The proposed 0% tax increase was discussed at the board meeting as part of a larger presentation detailing 2020-2021 budget variances and projected revenue and expenditures for 2021-2022.The proposed final budget forecasts $155,368,293 in revenue and expenditures, with a total spending authority of $160,367,293. The presentation included a number of factors that district staff believe will allow CASD to continue to provide quality education to students without the need for a tax increase.
Those factors include:
- A growing tax base
- The Chambersburg area continues to experience growth, resulting in a larger assessment base that increases revenue.
- Anticipated Savings during 2020-2021 fiscal year
- Primarily attributed to employee attrition and departmental cost savings, the District anticipates a net savings of over $2.4 million
Additionally, the federal government has provided substantial assistance to school districts via the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund through the CARES Act. CASD anticipates the receipt of $11,400,000 in ESSERII funds. A portion of the one-time federal funds, $3 million, is slated to offset existing planned expenditures, while the remaining funds will be allocated for additional one-time expenditures during the 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The one-time federal funds provide emergency relief to address the impact that COVID-19 has had on elementary and secondary schools across the United States.
Dr. Dion Betts, Superintendent of Schools at CASD, formed a “Future of Learning Group” to determine potential projects for the third round of COVID relief - ARP ESSER funds. Under the ARP ESSER funds, the District is slated to receive an additional $22, 590,950 usable through September 30, 2024. The group contains a wide variety of stakeholders throughout the district who aim to align the funds with district goals while following specific ARP ESSER spending guidelines.
The vote for the 2021-2022 final budget, setting the tax and millage rate for 2021-2022, is scheduled for the June 8, 2021, Regular Board meeting. CASD administration will continue to monitor the revenue and expenditure assumptions, providing updates to the school board and public via Regular Board Meetings. The public is encouraged to attend these meetings in-person (via e-mail request), or virtually on the CASD Youtube Channel. The CASD Business Office also provides up-to-date documents on their website here: https://www.casdonline.org/Page/776