Fiscally strapped Pittston Area OKs proposed budget

First Posted:

WILLIAM BELL Times Leader Correspondent

PITTSTON — Pittston Area School District held a combined work session/board meeting Tuesday night before an overflow crowd.
The Board approved a proposed budget of just under $40 million.
Al Melone of Albert B. Melone and Company, the district’s business consultant, presented a detailed proposed budget for 2011-12. He explained the district’s budget has been adversely affected by proposed state cutbacks and the limitations imposed by contractual obligations, especially salaries and benefits.
Melone showed a detailed breakdown reflecting the need for the district to increase real-estate tax and also to use part of its ending balance to alleviate an estimated $943,000 shortfall. He broke down the district’s proposed tax increase of $449,000 as .3238 mills. This action would increase taxes on the average home in the district by $37 a year, according to his calculations. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.
Melone said that as part of the proposed budget, the district would not be replacing six of eight retiring teachers. At this point, board member Mark Singer questioned the shifting of staff to fill the position of a middle school music teacher.
This triggered a lengthy discussion between Singer and Superintendent George Cosgrove, and numerous comments from music students’ parents and band parents in the audience. Singer attempted to have a motion passed to reinstate the music teacher position prior to the vote on the budget. His motion was tabled, and the proposed budget was passed by a 5-4 vote.
However, the board when voting on the Luzerne Intermediate Unit proposed budget, failed to approve it by a 5-4 vote. This was also followed by a vote of the board to rescind the appointment of Singer to represent the district at the Intermediate Unit. Solicitor Joseph Saporito explained that this vote might end up being moot if the Intermediate Unit had already taken action on the district’s past vote to appoint Singer. The vote to rescind the past vote for the appointment of Singer was 5-4 to rescind.
Melone explained the proposed budget would be available for public review and comment for 30 days, and the board would be able to change any item subject to the final passing next month.
The district’s next regular meeting will be June 27 at 7 p.m., but the board might schedule a special meeting before then.