A significant tax increase, and the elimination of nonmandated transportation, middle school athletics and certain extracurricular programs were all part of an option presented to Lehighton Area School District’s finance committee Monday night as part of a plan to cut into a nearly $2 million budget deficit before next week’s 2020-21 budget deadline.

“This isn’t an option I want to present, but we need to come up with some revenue generation,” Business Administrator Patricia Denicola said while speaking about the option.

Since the last finance committee meeting, the district has had a few more resignations or retirements and will not be filling those positions. That brought the projected deficit down to $1.78 million.

A 1.76-mill tax increase, which is the most the district is allowed under the state’s Act 1 index, would generate $580,376. Eliminating regular transportation, meaning the only students being bused in 2020-21 would be special education students who have a transportation component in the individualized education plan or students who attend nonpublic schools, would save $992,810. Cutting middle school athletics would save $84,538, while certain extracurricular program cuts would save $84,614.

The district did not outline what extracurricular program cuts are being proposed on Monday. Instead, Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said that would be shared during a finance committee meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Earlier on Monday, rumors surfaced online about potential cuts to the middle school music program.

“We have recently heard that Mrs. (Laura) Welkey’s position is not being filled for next year, due to the school district’s financial situation, and further, that Mrs. (Beth) Hudlow will not be working with the band the next school year in 5th grade all the way through 8th grade,” officers of the Lehighton Area Band Boosters Association posted on Facebook. “Think about the future ramifications of this. This will impact our future Tribe Pride marching band. This will impact our children who thrive in music.”

Concerns over the future of the middle school band even sparked a Change.org petition that garnered 586 signatures as of late Monday night.

“There has never been a discussion regarding eliminating the middle school band program,” Cleaver said of the rumors. “We are still planning to offer band and chorus though it may look a little but different because of the pandemic and the CDC requirements.”

Welkey’s position will not be filled, however, as the current plan by the district is to not replace anyone who has retired or resigned leading up to the 2020-21 school year.

After the proposed tax increase and cuts, the district’s deficit would be dropped to $37,691.

The district used 94% of its fund balance from 2014-15 through 2018-19 leaving it with $874,438 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. That money is expected to have been exhausted in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.

“In the past the district was using the fund balance to balance budgets,” Denicola said. “We will be constantly monitoring our revenue throughout the 2020-21 school year. If it trails off, our earned income tax for example, we may need to make appropriate decreases in expenditures throughout the year to make sure we maintain a balanced budget.”

Extending the deadline to pay the discounted or pre-penalty tax rates remains an option, but Denicola said the district would to have a cash flow option to support its needs with that money coming in later than it normally would.

Should transportation indeed be cut for next school year, Cleaver said the district would look at increasing drop off and pickup locations around the buildings and staggering start times.

To comply with the current recommendation of no more than 12 students on a school bus, Cleaver said, the district would need to have 100 bus runs just to get half of the student population to school.

“We currently have 20 bus runs in the morning for secondary and elementary,” he said. “Transportation is going to be a big discussion item as we look to possibly reopen school here in the fall.”

Director Richard Beltz said he would like to see a decrease in teacher salaries to help make up the budget deficit.

“These teachers supported the building project and the football stadium and closing four schools we have,” he said. “Now we have to ask them to help with this problem. We did a lot to help them. They have a nice new building to teach in and a nice new stadium. It’s not unreasonable to ask for something in return.”

Denicola said the district is bound by current collective bargaining agreements and those are what the budget is based on.