PhillyBurbs.com: The ABCs of your schools: Act 1 law making contract talks difficult
School boards "are using Act 1 to limit salary increases," a state teachers union spokesman said.
The state's property tax relief law, enacted four years ago, is playing an increasing role in contract negotiations between area teachers unions and their respective school boards, officials said.
The law, commonly known as Act 1, is a major reason why nine schools and districts in Bucks and Eastern Montgomery counties are approaching the new school year without labor agreements in place, they said.
Salaries and benefits are the main tie-ups in negotiations in the Centennial, Central Bucks, Hatboro-Horsham, Neshaminy, New Hope-Solebury, Pennridge and Pennsbury school districts, and Bucks County Technical and Upper Bucks Vocational high schools, officials said.
Act 1 limits how much school districts can raise taxes without residents' approval to help pay for the salaries and benefits. Tax percentage increases were about 4 percent when the law went into effect. Since then, the amount a district can raise taxes, known as the index rate, has been decreasing.
The index rate for 2011-12 is expected to be about 1.2 percent, said Dave Davare, director of research services for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. It is not expected to go back up in the near future, he said.
That, coupled with the fragile economy and the increased contributions that districts will pay to the Public School Employees' Retirement System fund in the next few years, are the main reasons why school boards are calling for little or no salary increases in their contract proposals for teachers unions.
"Districts need to pay attention to what they are spending, not only in terms of the present year outlay but also future year expenses," Davare said.
Not everyone sees it that way. State teachers union leaders say the property tax relief law has become a tool of sorts for school boards.
"Boards are using Act 1 to try to limit salary increases and get local associations to pay more for their health insurance premiums," said Rob Broderick, a spokesman with the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
The state law does not prevent school boards from spending money on collective bargaining agreements, Broderick said. He suggests if school boards want to stay competitive with attracting and retaining quality teachers they "have to make choices" about program and extra-curricular offerings and capital improvements.
School boards also can file for more exceptions from the state to raise taxes above their districts' index rate to cover special education, pension payments and other costs. That would free up existing revenue to help cover salary increases for teachers union members, he said.
"The rate of settlements is coming down," Broderick acknowledged, because of the environment created by Act 1, the economy and the impending pension rate increases. Unions are weighing their options, he said.
"They have to decide what's better, whether it's a new contract or staying with what they have where they are not getting raises but they also are not paying more for health care," Broderick said.
Davare, the research services director at PSBA, a trade group, said he doesn't see the labor stalemates ending any time soon given the increasingly dire circumstances surrounding the contract talks.
School board members are hearing from their constituents across the state, many of them hit hard by the tough economic times, he said. They encourage board members to not give in to the union demands for greater salaries without significant increases to their health care contributions, he said.
"Negotiations are going to be difficult and protracted," Davare said.
August 22, 2010 03:31 AM
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
Actors net performing at the High School this weekend
This weekend the Actors NET of Bucks County are performing at the Morrisville Intermediate/High School auditorium. Below is the link to their website with all the info:
ActorsNET
ActorsNET
Morrisville Fire Co. Labor Day 10k & Fun Run
We just got word of the Morrisville Fire Co's annual Labor Day 10k & Fun Run. Sounds like a great event to support a great organization. Below are the details:
The annual Morrisville Fire Company Labor Day 10k & Fun Run will take place on September 6, 2010. You can mail or drop off your registration to Morrisville Fire Company - 528 North Pennsylvania Ave. - Morrisville, Pa 19067. Entry fees are $25.00 until 9/5/2010 and $30.00 on race day between 7:00am - 8:45am. The one mile fun run registration is $20.00, and all checks can be made payable to Morrisville Fire Company. Number and shirt pick up will take place at the Morrisville Fire Company on September 4, 2010 from 9:00am - 4:00pm and September 5, 2010 from 9:00am - 4:00pm. The 10k course begins at Williamson Park on North Delmorr Ave. and course maps are also available at the Morrisville Fire Company. Registration forms can be obtained on the Morrisville Fire Company web site at www.morrisville98.com. The fire company is also still looking for sponsors for the race. If anyone is interested in sponsoring for the race please contact Matt Wiedenhaefer at the email adress matt@morrisville98.com or by phone at 267-278-5113.
File this one under.." Sorry Sharon"
For those that don't already know, Sharon Hughes also video tapes the school board meetings. It is also not known what she does with the tapes.
from the BCCT:
Plan to record meetings hits a snag
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE - Morrisville is having some technical difficulties.
The borough purchased new video recording equipment including a new monitor for the system used to record council meetings. The new equipment was supposed to be hooked up for this week's meeting, but it didn't turn out that way. The new pieces weren't compatible to the 15-year-old recording setup.
Council President Nancy Sherlock said the borough will fix the problem in the next few weeks and hopes to be able to start recording again in September with the help of volunteers.
The issue came up after Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach was concerned that future meetings weren't going to be recorded. Dreisbach's concern was raised because letters were sent to volunteers who monitor the recording system informing them that their services weren't needed this month. The letter didn't go into detail nor did it mention a date that recording would resume, leading Dreisbach to think recordings of meetings had been suspended permanently.
But Councilwoman Kathryn Panzitta said there wasn't any indication in the letters that meetings weren't going to be recorded anymore.
Volunteer Sharon Hughes, who records the council meetings from inside a booth, sat in the audience recording the meeting with a hand-held camera. It was unknown Thursday what Hughes is going to do with the recording.
from the BCCT:
Plan to record meetings hits a snag
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE - Morrisville is having some technical difficulties.
The borough purchased new video recording equipment including a new monitor for the system used to record council meetings. The new equipment was supposed to be hooked up for this week's meeting, but it didn't turn out that way. The new pieces weren't compatible to the 15-year-old recording setup.
Council President Nancy Sherlock said the borough will fix the problem in the next few weeks and hopes to be able to start recording again in September with the help of volunteers.
The issue came up after Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach was concerned that future meetings weren't going to be recorded. Dreisbach's concern was raised because letters were sent to volunteers who monitor the recording system informing them that their services weren't needed this month. The letter didn't go into detail nor did it mention a date that recording would resume, leading Dreisbach to think recordings of meetings had been suspended permanently.
But Councilwoman Kathryn Panzitta said there wasn't any indication in the letters that meetings weren't going to be recorded anymore.
Volunteer Sharon Hughes, who records the council meetings from inside a booth, sat in the audience recording the meeting with a hand-held camera. It was unknown Thursday what Hughes is going to do with the recording.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Morrisville seeking casino funds
From the Bcct:
Borough seeks $200,000 in casino funds
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE
Officials say Morrisville should get the funds because New Jersey commuters drive through the borough to get to Parx.
Morrisville officials hope to get a portion of this year's approximately $3.8 million in gaming revenue grants from Parx Casino.
They sent a letter to the Bucks County commissioners asking for $200,000 of that funding. If the commissioners agree, then Morrisville must submit an application to the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, the agency in charge of distributing the funds.
The commissioners and authority set precedent in 2008 when they agreed to give Bristol $350,000 for police and fire building renovations even though the borough doesn't border Bensalem, the casino's host community, as required by state law. But in 2009, the authority denied Upper Southampton's request for $554,093 in casino gaming revenue to use for rebuilding Stump Road. That same year, the authority also denied a request from Penndel because its application was submitted 15 minutes late.
Morrisville would like to use the requested money in the following manner: $30,000 to purchase a police car, $70,000 for a street sweeper, $70,000 for the purchase and installation of 50 LED street lights along Bridge Street, Trenton Avenue and the south portion of Pennsylvania Avenue. In addition, $25,000 would be used for four preemptive devices on traffic signals on Trenton and Pennsylvania avenues that enable emergency vehicles to control them, and $5,000 for seven preemptive devices in police cars to operate the signals.
During discussion at the Morrisville meeting this week, Councilman David Rivella said the borough should be given a portion of gaming money from Parx in future years without the borough going through an application process even though the town isn't contiguous to the casino.
Why? Because New Jersey commuters drive through Morrisville to get to Parx, officials argue.
Last year's share of gaming money was $2.6 million in Bucks. The municipalities eligible to receive a portion of the county money each year are host Bensalem and the bordering towns of Lower Southampton, Middletown, Hulmeville and Bristol Township. Any other towns need the approval of the county commissioners. In addition, Bensalem automatically gets $10 million a year in gaming money as the host community.
Rivella said that New Jersey residents use three bridges to cross into Pennsylvania, all of which lead into the 1.5-square-mile borough.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission oversees the three bridges - the Calhoun Street Bridge on Trenton Avenue, the Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge on Bridge Street and the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge on Route 1.
Bob White, executive director of the authority, said Rivella's argument is a long stretch. Bridge Street and Route 1 are state roads, so Morrisville isn't responsible for their maintenance anyway, said White.
"Then we'll have Philadelphia asking us for money because people are using I-95 to get to the casino," he said.
Casino gaming money shared with communities must be used for projects such as road maintenance and public safety, according to state law.
White added that when state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, was working on the law, he addressed the concerns of the abutting municipalities, and "no one else stepped to the plate to raise concerns."
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Tomlinson for comment Thursday because he was on vacation.
However, state Rep. John Galloway, D-140, said the whole process of distributing the cash needs to be reviewed. Instead of the county commissioners deciding where the money goes "like Santa Claus," the process should be administered by the state in a "fair, open and competitive process."
For that to happen, state lawmakers would need to change the law that apportions gaming revenue sharing to county government and towns that border the casino's host community.
Borough seeks $200,000 in casino funds
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE
Officials say Morrisville should get the funds because New Jersey commuters drive through the borough to get to Parx.
Morrisville officials hope to get a portion of this year's approximately $3.8 million in gaming revenue grants from Parx Casino.
They sent a letter to the Bucks County commissioners asking for $200,000 of that funding. If the commissioners agree, then Morrisville must submit an application to the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, the agency in charge of distributing the funds.
The commissioners and authority set precedent in 2008 when they agreed to give Bristol $350,000 for police and fire building renovations even though the borough doesn't border Bensalem, the casino's host community, as required by state law. But in 2009, the authority denied Upper Southampton's request for $554,093 in casino gaming revenue to use for rebuilding Stump Road. That same year, the authority also denied a request from Penndel because its application was submitted 15 minutes late.
Morrisville would like to use the requested money in the following manner: $30,000 to purchase a police car, $70,000 for a street sweeper, $70,000 for the purchase and installation of 50 LED street lights along Bridge Street, Trenton Avenue and the south portion of Pennsylvania Avenue. In addition, $25,000 would be used for four preemptive devices on traffic signals on Trenton and Pennsylvania avenues that enable emergency vehicles to control them, and $5,000 for seven preemptive devices in police cars to operate the signals.
During discussion at the Morrisville meeting this week, Councilman David Rivella said the borough should be given a portion of gaming money from Parx in future years without the borough going through an application process even though the town isn't contiguous to the casino.
Why? Because New Jersey commuters drive through Morrisville to get to Parx, officials argue.
Last year's share of gaming money was $2.6 million in Bucks. The municipalities eligible to receive a portion of the county money each year are host Bensalem and the bordering towns of Lower Southampton, Middletown, Hulmeville and Bristol Township. Any other towns need the approval of the county commissioners. In addition, Bensalem automatically gets $10 million a year in gaming money as the host community.
Rivella said that New Jersey residents use three bridges to cross into Pennsylvania, all of which lead into the 1.5-square-mile borough.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission oversees the three bridges - the Calhoun Street Bridge on Trenton Avenue, the Lower Trenton Toll-Supported Bridge on Bridge Street and the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge on Route 1.
Bob White, executive director of the authority, said Rivella's argument is a long stretch. Bridge Street and Route 1 are state roads, so Morrisville isn't responsible for their maintenance anyway, said White.
"Then we'll have Philadelphia asking us for money because people are using I-95 to get to the casino," he said.
Casino gaming money shared with communities must be used for projects such as road maintenance and public safety, according to state law.
White added that when state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, R-6, was working on the law, he addressed the concerns of the abutting municipalities, and "no one else stepped to the plate to raise concerns."
The newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Tomlinson for comment Thursday because he was on vacation.
However, state Rep. John Galloway, D-140, said the whole process of distributing the cash needs to be reviewed. Instead of the county commissioners deciding where the money goes "like Santa Claus," the process should be administered by the state in a "fair, open and competitive process."
For that to happen, state lawmakers would need to change the law that apportions gaming revenue sharing to county government and towns that border the casino's host community.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
From our neighbors in Bristol
From the BCCT:
By: RACHEL CANELLI
Bucks County Courier Times
BRISTOL SCHOOLS
Families are required to provide identification, such as a driver's license, and proof of residency, like a utility or tax bill.
Attention Bristol parents: You need to re-register your children for the 2010-11 school year at Bristol Borough Junior/Senior High School by Aug. 26 or they may not be admitted to school.
The guidance office will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12:01 p.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday over the next two weeks to help ease the process. The office is closed for lunch from 11 a.m. to noon.
Parents should have received notices in the spring, and the district is sending out automated phone calls as a reminder to parents, said business manager Joseph Roe.
"We did this district-wide 10 years ago, but not to this extent since," he said. "We just asked certain people (to prove borough residency) who had red flags, like a piece of mail came back undeliverable. We just thought it was time to redo it (district-wide) because otherwise, it's like we're starting to pick on certain people."
Families are required to provide identification, such as a driver's license, and proof of residency, like a utility or tax bill, Roe said.
Bristol school board President Ralph DiGiuseppe III said during a meeting Wednesday night that the district solicitor is working on finding out what happens if unregistered kids show up to school.
Roe said if parents aren't available when the guidance office is open, the district will offer special arrangements to make sure students are registered.
"We're bending over backwards to get this done," he said. "So there's no excuse for people not to comply."
How to re-register
Re-registration is being held at Bristol High School's guidance office, 1801 Wilson Ave., from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 17 through 19 and Aug. 24 through Aug. 26. The office is closed from 11 a.m. to noon.
August 13, 2010 02:08 AM
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