Pleasant Valley School District has released and approved its preliminary budget for the next school year. In accordance with Act 1 requirements, the preliminary budget must be approved before Feb. 14. The preliminary budget total is $104,281,238, with a millage rate of 152.7598.

As in prior years, the district’s preliminary budget estimates include the highest allowed tax increase. This first look includes a proposed real estate tax increase of 6.7438 mills, a 4.6 percent increase over the budget adopted last June.

“We traditionally start out at the maximum allowed and then work the numbers back as more information becomes available,” said district business Manager Susan Famularo.

Famularo said that she and Superintendent David Piperato would be giving an in-depth budget presentation sometime in April.

In the meantime the preliminary budget is available for review online at the district website at www.pvbears.org or in person at the district office at 2233 Route 115, Suite 100, Brodheadsville.

Pleasant Valley has not had a school tax increase in seven years. However, Famularo pointed out district expenses continue to increase, as do employer contributions to retirement, medical insurance and contractual costs.

The 2017-18 final budget represented a rate of 146.016 mills.

The final budget must be approved no later than June 30.

Other business

The board adopted a resolution in opposition of Senate Bill 2, which would broaden the existing Education Savings Account voucher program to include primary and secondary private schools.

The program currently allows families to save money tax free for college tuition.

The resolution says the voucher programs such as those under Senate Bill 2 undermine Pennsylvania’s responsibility to ensure every student in every community has equal access to public education.

• State money for ESA’s would be deducted, on a per-student basis, from a school district’s basic education subsidy.

• Not only would school districts’ state aid be sent to unaccountable private schools, but such money could also be diverted to higher education, tutoring services and other ‘qualified education expenses,’ not ensuring student receive full-time educational instruction.