Palmerton Area School District will reinstate more than $115,000 in Accountability Block Grant funding into its spending plan.

The school board unanimously agreed on Tuesday to approve the district's amended general fund operating budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, which calls for a 51.44 mill real estate tax levy, with budgetary expenditures of $27,433,013, and all other previously approved Act 511 & Section 629 taxes.The revised budget includes the reinstatement of the ABG grant in the amount of $115,408; designated millage for 2013-14 retirement obligations in the amount of $179,700; and the elimination of the state IU transportation in the Governor's budget in the amount of $129,796.In June, the board adopted this year's spending plan with a 2.30-mill, or, 4.68-percent increase, in the property tax rate.Also on Tuesday, business Manager Diane Serfass notified the board the district will see a reduction in funding in two areas.Serfass said the district will lose $31,850 through a school-based access funding program that was used to pay for half of a clerical salary/benefits and supplies in the special education department.However, she noted that the district will be able to use a carry over to get it through this school year.In addition, Serfass said the district will see a $37,357 reduction in its IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) allocation that were used to pay for one full-time special education teacher, as well as for instructional assistants.However, she said that the district should have enough through a combination of ABG funding and the regular special education budget to cover this school year.In other business, the board:• Approved change order #002 - CC Inc., high school auditorium renovations - project #1059010.014B. The contract is changed as follows: To provide cabling, data plates, and associated wiring for projector and projector screen to provide suitable projection screen mounting hardware. The contract sum will be increased by this change order in the amount of $18,694.• Approved change order #003 - CC Inc. - high school auditorium renovations - project #1059010.014B. The contract is changed as follows: To pull added wires and four three-phase breakers for rigging motors; provide power to capstan hoist and exhaust fans; conduits and wire for existing starts; provide four three-pole breakers in new panel for fans; and rework fire alarm conduit. The contract sum will be increased by this change order in the amount of $6,827.• Approved changer order #002 - CMG of Easton, Inc. - high school stadium bleachers - project #1059010.012. The contract is changed as follows: Grounding and installation of unistrut of interior fluorescent lighting. The contract sum will be increased by this change order in the amount of $764.• Approved change order #002 - CMG of Easton, Inc. - junior high gymnasium - project #1059010.011. The contract is changed as follows: Floor design changes that were required for weight loads of the telescopic bleachers. The contract sum will be increased by this change order in the amount of $8,129.• Approved the contract with Eastern Time to furnish the equipment and services for new sound reinforcement systems in the high school gymnasium in the amount of $8,184, and the football stadium in the amount of $7,050. Funding source will be the 2010 bond issue.• Approved the contract with Blue Event Center, 4431 Easton Avenue, Bethlehem, for the Class of 2013 Senior Prom on May 3, 2013, at a minimum food and beverage charge of $9,000, plus tax and service charge up to 250 guests. A minimum deposit of $500 will be required to confirm the reservation.• Approved the "Trust Agreement Resolution" as an amended and restated trust agreement known as the "IU21 Trust" with Jim Thorpe Area, Panther Valley, Weatherly Area, Carbon Career & Technical, and Palmerton Area School districts for the purpose of obtaining and contracting for health care benefits for their employees in the most cost effective method possible. This is an open ended trust agreement that will remain in effect until any of the above school districts dissolve their membership, or a new member is added to the trust.• Approved the real estate taxpayer installment dates for 2012 per PASD Installment Payment Plan Resolution as follows: due on or before Aug. 17, 2012, installment #1; Sept. 28, 2012, installment #2; Nov. 9, 2012, installment #3.• Approved the contract with CLIU#21 for participation in the CLIU Driver Education Program, with an effective date of July 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013, at the annual rate of $2,000.• Approved general school supply bids at the cost of $14,599.• Approved office paper bid at the cost of $21,779.• Approved the 2012-13 Shop Specialties Machinery Maintenance contract at a cost of $1,300.• Accepted the resignation of Carol S. Boyce from Carbon County Tax Committee, effective Aug. 21, 2012.• Approved the Appointment of Delegate Resolution to appoint Diane M. Serfass as primary voting delegate on the Carbon County TCC Commission, and Sherry Haas as the first alternate voting delegate.• Approved the Earned Income Tax (EIT) Confidential Contract Resolution to appoint Serfass as its authorized representative to make requests upon and receive any and all tax information and records from Berkheimer, relative to the collection of EIT taxes for the district.• Approved and adopted the Cost of Collection Schedule attached hereto and made a part of this resolution to be imposed by Berkheimer upon any taxpayer whose EIT taxes are, or become, delinquent and/or remain due and unpaid.