The state budget is still at an impasse in Harrisburg but the Pleasant Valley Board of Education is already planning its budget for a school year that won't start until late summer. The preliminary budget for the 2016-17 school year was passed at Thursday's board meeting.

The preliminary budget, which was prepared by district business manager Susan Famularo, has appropriationsof $103,123,388. The millage rate is 153.0510 mills.The preliminary budget represents a 7.035-mill increase or a 4.8 percent increase from the 2015-16 tax rate.School district budgets are governed by Act 1 which requires the district to prepare a preliminary budget. The final budget must be adopted no later than June 30.According to a press release issued by the district, the preliminary budget is a first draft, "it is a starting point for budget deliberations by the school district administration and board of education and is based on revenue and expenditure estimates which will become more refined as the budget process moves forward."The 2016-17 preliminary budget is available for public inspection on the district website at

www.pvbears.org or at the district office located at 2233 Route 115 Suite 100, Brodheadsville.State Rep. Jack Rader was also in attendance at the meeting. Radar addressed that board, but was not hopeful that the budget crisis in Harrisburg might be over soon."I suggest as you move ahead with the budget, you assume that you will get at least what you have gotten in the past," Rader said. "I wouldn't presume that you will get more, though hopefully you will, but stick with what you have received in the past."With regard to the ongoing budget standoff, Rader said, "It seems to be getting worse, not better, and it is more political now."The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Pleasant Valley Education Association approving a conditional retirement incentive. The memorandum specifies that if a minimum of eight professional employees notify the superintendent in writing no later than March 22, that they intend to retire at the end of the 2015-16, school year those eight or more professional employees will be entitled to a severance package.The severance package is a percentage of base salary dependent on the number of years of service as a professional in the district.According to the agreement, failure to achieve the minimum number of eight professional employees will render the agreement null and void.The board also approved an agreement between the district and VisionQuest to provide education services for district students residing at VisionQuest facilities.Famularo also informed those present that the district has received the six months of funds released by the state the keep the districts operating with no state budget.