from the BCCT:
Ward One Neighborhood meeting set for Monday
By: KATE FRATTI
Bucks County Courier Times
There will be a Ward One Neighborhood community meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Morrisville Senior Center at 31 E. Cleveland Ave.
Ward One residents are being invited by community leaders to participate it what could be "a potentially heated discussion" regarding the decision to place a Ward One Community Center at Robert Morris Apartments, which is in Ward 2.
Bucks County Housing Group, which owns the low-income Robert Morris complex, was asked to apply for a five-year neighborhood improvement grant from the Wachovia Regional Foundation, and now will administer those funds. Some argue a community center would better serve Ward One at the senior center.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
New website for landmark towns initiative
from the BCCT:
Website launched for landmark towns initiative
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
The site markets the waterfront towns of Bristol, Morrisville, New Hope and Yardley.
From Triumph Brewing Co. in New Hope to Concerto Fusion in Morrisville, Bristol Riverside Theatre and Yardley's Delaware River Gallery, this new site shows off a lot.
The Landmark Towns of Bucks County on Wednesday announced the launch of a new Web site to hopefully increase tourism and commercial enterprises in the waterfront boroughs of Bristol, Morrisville, New Hope and Yardley.
The site, www.landmarktowns.com, features lists of places to go and things to see in the four historic Bucks boroughs along the Delaware River and Canal, while offering resources to potential businesses to help them move into the area.
The site offers links to heritage and culture, dining, shopping and lodging sites and a full calendar of events for the four towns.
It also includes archived documents relating to the regional revitalization initiative, which kicked off in 2006.
"The key to attracting visitors to the region is to make it easy for them to find the information they desire and to clearly present what the Landmark Towns have to offer," said Thomas Anthony, a principal and creative director of site developer Zero Defect Design LLC of Paoli. "This site was developed with that goal."
A "generous gift" by Zero Defect Design and a grant from the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau funded the Web site creation, said Donna Boone, Landmark Towns' regional Main Street coordinator.
"We are thrilled that the Tourism Grant Program was able to fund a Web site that will aid in the development and enhancement of tourism throughout the four Landmark towns; Bristol, Morrisville, New Hope and Yardley," said Jerry Lepping, executive director of Bucks County Conference & Visitors Bureau.
Website launched for landmark towns initiative
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
The site markets the waterfront towns of Bristol, Morrisville, New Hope and Yardley.
From Triumph Brewing Co. in New Hope to Concerto Fusion in Morrisville, Bristol Riverside Theatre and Yardley's Delaware River Gallery, this new site shows off a lot.
The Landmark Towns of Bucks County on Wednesday announced the launch of a new Web site to hopefully increase tourism and commercial enterprises in the waterfront boroughs of Bristol, Morrisville, New Hope and Yardley.
The site, www.landmarktowns.com, features lists of places to go and things to see in the four historic Bucks boroughs along the Delaware River and Canal, while offering resources to potential businesses to help them move into the area.
The site offers links to heritage and culture, dining, shopping and lodging sites and a full calendar of events for the four towns.
It also includes archived documents relating to the regional revitalization initiative, which kicked off in 2006.
"The key to attracting visitors to the region is to make it easy for them to find the information they desire and to clearly present what the Landmark Towns have to offer," said Thomas Anthony, a principal and creative director of site developer Zero Defect Design LLC of Paoli. "This site was developed with that goal."
A "generous gift" by Zero Defect Design and a grant from the Bucks County Conference and Visitors Bureau funded the Web site creation, said Donna Boone, Landmark Towns' regional Main Street coordinator.
"We are thrilled that the Tourism Grant Program was able to fund a Web site that will aid in the development and enhancement of tourism throughout the four Landmark towns; Bristol, Morrisville, New Hope and Yardley," said Jerry Lepping, executive director of Bucks County Conference & Visitors Bureau.
Other districts in Bucks seeking higher taxes.
From the BCCT:
Most districts seeking higher tax rates
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
The projected average tax increases range from $108 in Morrisville to $464 in Bristol.
Six out of the eight school districts in Lower Bucks County plan to ask the state for permission to raise taxes in the coming school year beyond what is allowable under the state's property tax relief law.
The Morrisville and Pennsbury school boards were the only governing bodies in Lower Bucks to pledge to keep any tax increase for 2010-11 within the assigned index rate. That amounts to a 3.4 percent increase of Morrisville's current tax rate and a 2.9 percent increase of Pennsbury's millage rate.
School boards throughout Pennsylvania that planned to not raise taxes beyond their index rate had until Thursday to pass a resolution stating their intentions, as per the property tax relief law known as Act 1. A district's index is determined by averaging employment cost index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics with the statewide average weekly wage.
Most districts, however, have indicated that remaining below their designated index rate would not be possible, given the current economic climate.
The school boards will ask the state's permission to increase their respective tax rates even further to cover various exceptions. They include special expense costs, debt service payments and the estimated 4 percent increase in retirement contributions.
The average tax increases are expected to range from $108 in Morrisville to $464 in Bristol, according to initial projections.
Council Rock, with a possible 7.4 mill increase, finds itself in the middle of the pack with an estimated $280 property tax increase.
"While we place that in front of the board to begin the Act 1 process, it is not a budget that is acceptable to anyone in the Council Rock School District," Superintendent Mark Klein said. District administrators will work over the next few weeks "to significantly reduce that budget and millage increase," he said.
The budget process is in constant motion between now and June, when school boards adopt final budgets. Many variables have to be considered, figured and reconfigured, officials said.
For instance, in Bensalem, the school board had planned to use $2 million in reserve funds to cover expenses during the current school year. But thanks to several cost-cutting measures, including several delayed hires, the reserve funds will not be needed during 2009-10, said Jack Myers, Bensalem's director of business operations.
The Bensalem board might opt to use some or all of those funds to help balance the 2010-11 budget, Myers said.
The six Lower Bucks school boards that did not promise to keep tax increases below their respective index rate now have until mid-February to adopt a preliminary budget that could include the requested exceptions.
All school boards in the state have until June 30 to adopt a final budget for the following school year.
Most districts seeking higher tax rates
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
The projected average tax increases range from $108 in Morrisville to $464 in Bristol.
Six out of the eight school districts in Lower Bucks County plan to ask the state for permission to raise taxes in the coming school year beyond what is allowable under the state's property tax relief law.
The Morrisville and Pennsbury school boards were the only governing bodies in Lower Bucks to pledge to keep any tax increase for 2010-11 within the assigned index rate. That amounts to a 3.4 percent increase of Morrisville's current tax rate and a 2.9 percent increase of Pennsbury's millage rate.
School boards throughout Pennsylvania that planned to not raise taxes beyond their index rate had until Thursday to pass a resolution stating their intentions, as per the property tax relief law known as Act 1. A district's index is determined by averaging employment cost index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics with the statewide average weekly wage.
Most districts, however, have indicated that remaining below their designated index rate would not be possible, given the current economic climate.
The school boards will ask the state's permission to increase their respective tax rates even further to cover various exceptions. They include special expense costs, debt service payments and the estimated 4 percent increase in retirement contributions.
The average tax increases are expected to range from $108 in Morrisville to $464 in Bristol, according to initial projections.
Council Rock, with a possible 7.4 mill increase, finds itself in the middle of the pack with an estimated $280 property tax increase.
"While we place that in front of the board to begin the Act 1 process, it is not a budget that is acceptable to anyone in the Council Rock School District," Superintendent Mark Klein said. District administrators will work over the next few weeks "to significantly reduce that budget and millage increase," he said.
The budget process is in constant motion between now and June, when school boards adopt final budgets. Many variables have to be considered, figured and reconfigured, officials said.
For instance, in Bensalem, the school board had planned to use $2 million in reserve funds to cover expenses during the current school year. But thanks to several cost-cutting measures, including several delayed hires, the reserve funds will not be needed during 2009-10, said Jack Myers, Bensalem's director of business operations.
The Bensalem board might opt to use some or all of those funds to help balance the 2010-11 budget, Myers said.
The six Lower Bucks school boards that did not promise to keep tax increases below their respective index rate now have until mid-February to adopt a preliminary budget that could include the requested exceptions.
All school boards in the state have until June 30 to adopt a final budget for the following school year.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
from the bcct:
Board takes steps to avoid tax hike
By: GEORGE MATTAR
Bucks County Courier Times
The Morrisville school board enthusiastically passed the Act 1 Resolution Wednesday, which will keep any tax increase below the 3.4 percent district index for the 2010-11 budget.
The vote was unanimous and most members gave a resounding "yes" when asked to vote. Board President William R. Hellmann said "absolutely" when voting yes.
The board and administration are working to keep taxes low, but is facing a $1.1 million shortfall for next year's budget, said Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Hammond Yonson.
By passing the resolution, the board is committed to and can no longer fall back on applying for exceptions to raise the tax any higher than 3.4 percent.
Right now, the budget is $18.4 million and the average tax bill is $3,191.
Last week, district business administrator Paul DeAngelo said, "We're going back to the drawing board. We're going to look at the budget line by line."
He told the board at a preliminary budget meeting that Morrisville schools will consider a number of ways to balance the budget, including an expected $100,000 credit from Intermediate Unit No. 22, as well as trying to reduce energy costs and efficiencies in special education facilities.
DeAngelo also said there are several factors contributing to the deficit, including 8.56 percent higher premiums for health care, a projected increase in the employees' retirement system, a $255,000 increase for the Bucks County Technical High School budget and decreases in local, state and federal revenues.
Additionally, teacher salaries and benefits are expected to increase about 3.5 percent.
Hellmann read a portion in an editorial from Thursday's newspaper that called for cutbacks in school districts' budgets.
"It says schools should do more to cut costs," he said. "We do need to cut costs. I agree with that."
In other business, resident Ann Perry asked the board about what she called "a persistent rumor" that some of the district's three music teachers would be laid off.
Yonson said she has no idea where Perry got that information and said nothing has been discussed regarding any such cuts.
After the meeting, Perry would not elaborate, but said she has heard it talked about throughout Morrisville.
Board takes steps to avoid tax hike
By: GEORGE MATTAR
Bucks County Courier Times
The Morrisville school board enthusiastically passed the Act 1 Resolution Wednesday, which will keep any tax increase below the 3.4 percent district index for the 2010-11 budget.
The vote was unanimous and most members gave a resounding "yes" when asked to vote. Board President William R. Hellmann said "absolutely" when voting yes.
The board and administration are working to keep taxes low, but is facing a $1.1 million shortfall for next year's budget, said Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Hammond Yonson.
By passing the resolution, the board is committed to and can no longer fall back on applying for exceptions to raise the tax any higher than 3.4 percent.
Right now, the budget is $18.4 million and the average tax bill is $3,191.
Last week, district business administrator Paul DeAngelo said, "We're going back to the drawing board. We're going to look at the budget line by line."
He told the board at a preliminary budget meeting that Morrisville schools will consider a number of ways to balance the budget, including an expected $100,000 credit from Intermediate Unit No. 22, as well as trying to reduce energy costs and efficiencies in special education facilities.
DeAngelo also said there are several factors contributing to the deficit, including 8.56 percent higher premiums for health care, a projected increase in the employees' retirement system, a $255,000 increase for the Bucks County Technical High School budget and decreases in local, state and federal revenues.
Additionally, teacher salaries and benefits are expected to increase about 3.5 percent.
Hellmann read a portion in an editorial from Thursday's newspaper that called for cutbacks in school districts' budgets.
"It says schools should do more to cut costs," he said. "We do need to cut costs. I agree with that."
In other business, resident Ann Perry asked the board about what she called "a persistent rumor" that some of the district's three music teachers would be laid off.
Yonson said she has no idea where Perry got that information and said nothing has been discussed regarding any such cuts.
After the meeting, Perry would not elaborate, but said she has heard it talked about throughout Morrisville.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Water and sewer rates going up
From the BCCT:
Water, sewer rates going up
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
Water and sewer rates are going up for many Morrisville Municipal Authority customers - some as much as 11 percent - and a $2 per quarter metering charge is being tacked onto bills.
But Executive Director John Warenda said while the cost for the average customer is going up, customers who use the least amount of water and sewer services will see a slight reduction. That's because the quarterly water and sewer rate for the first 5,000 gallons was reduced by $2 for water and more than $1 for sewer for those small-use customers.
Commercial bulk users will see their fees go up to as high as 11 percent for water and 7 percent for sewer costs.
A typical residential customer who uses 13,500 gallons per quarter for water and sewer will pay about $142. That same bill would have cost $139 last year. A family of four using 17,500 gallons per quarter will pay about $180, when they would have paid $176 in 2009.
Officials said the increased rates were built into this year's $6 million-plus budget to compensate for increases in overall operating costs - chemicals are 40 percent more expensive, health insurance costs are up 12 percent and maintenance costs continue to rise, he said.
Salaries for the authority's 30 employees also are up 3 percent. The authority will pay $1.86 million in salaries this year, compared to the $1.81 million paid out last year. That works out to an average income of $62,000 a year. Authority employees have budgeted $185,000 for plant overtime this year compared to $168,000 last year.
With roughly 3,900 residential and 300 commercial customers in Morrisville and parts of Falls and Lower Makefield, the authority will use revenue from its new $2 metering fee - an estimated $33,600 this year - to fund upkeep on water mains, street valves, hydrants, laterals and other related infrastructure, according to officials. Parts of the municipal authority's system are more than 100 years old.
The authority is budgeted to generate $182,000 in revenue in 2010 by continuing its treatment of leachate - a liquid waste product created by rainfall that passes through trash and is collected at the bottom of Waste Management's landfills in Lower Bucks County.
The municipal authority treats 70,000 gallons of the trash-tainted water from Falls' GROWS landfill and the Tullytown landfill daily.
Even with the new rates, the authority will evaluate its charges and rate structure during the course of the next year.
"It is important to try to maintain an equitable balance between large bulk users, who pay the lowest rate for the greatest consumption, and non-commercial residential consumers, who pay much smaller bills, but at much higher rates," Warenda said.
Water, sewer rates going up
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
Water and sewer rates are going up for many Morrisville Municipal Authority customers - some as much as 11 percent - and a $2 per quarter metering charge is being tacked onto bills.
But Executive Director John Warenda said while the cost for the average customer is going up, customers who use the least amount of water and sewer services will see a slight reduction. That's because the quarterly water and sewer rate for the first 5,000 gallons was reduced by $2 for water and more than $1 for sewer for those small-use customers.
Commercial bulk users will see their fees go up to as high as 11 percent for water and 7 percent for sewer costs.
A typical residential customer who uses 13,500 gallons per quarter for water and sewer will pay about $142. That same bill would have cost $139 last year. A family of four using 17,500 gallons per quarter will pay about $180, when they would have paid $176 in 2009.
Officials said the increased rates were built into this year's $6 million-plus budget to compensate for increases in overall operating costs - chemicals are 40 percent more expensive, health insurance costs are up 12 percent and maintenance costs continue to rise, he said.
Salaries for the authority's 30 employees also are up 3 percent. The authority will pay $1.86 million in salaries this year, compared to the $1.81 million paid out last year. That works out to an average income of $62,000 a year. Authority employees have budgeted $185,000 for plant overtime this year compared to $168,000 last year.
With roughly 3,900 residential and 300 commercial customers in Morrisville and parts of Falls and Lower Makefield, the authority will use revenue from its new $2 metering fee - an estimated $33,600 this year - to fund upkeep on water mains, street valves, hydrants, laterals and other related infrastructure, according to officials. Parts of the municipal authority's system are more than 100 years old.
The authority is budgeted to generate $182,000 in revenue in 2010 by continuing its treatment of leachate - a liquid waste product created by rainfall that passes through trash and is collected at the bottom of Waste Management's landfills in Lower Bucks County.
The municipal authority treats 70,000 gallons of the trash-tainted water from Falls' GROWS landfill and the Tullytown landfill daily.
Even with the new rates, the authority will evaluate its charges and rate structure during the course of the next year.
"It is important to try to maintain an equitable balance between large bulk users, who pay the lowest rate for the greatest consumption, and non-commercial residential consumers, who pay much smaller bills, but at much higher rates," Warenda said.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Fitz makes it official
Fitzpatrick makes it official: He's running
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Surrounded by his family, the former congressman said he's ready to make another bid to represent the 8th District.
Mike Fitzpatrick formally announced before a large crowd of cheering supporters Saturday morning that he is running for Congress.
As he stepped up to the dais on a lawn near St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, where he was treated for colon cancer in 2008, more than 300 supporters broke into chants of "Run, Mike, run!"
Surrounded by his family, Fitzpatrick said he's ready to try for the Eighth District seat once again after beating cancer into remission. The Republican candidate ran in 2006 but lost to Democrat Patrick Murphy, D-8. He faces a crowded field of Republicans hoping to snag the nomination.
"Being away has given me a fresh new outlook and a very clear vision,'' said Fitzpatrick. "Eighteen months ago, I did not expect to run again for public office. But I also didn't expect to see the runaway growth in the federal government, our national debt exploding, and so many fine Americans unemployed and underemployed."
His remarks were partially marred by a heckler in the crowd who repeatedly shouted, "How are you going to fix health care?" and other remarks as the crowd shushed him repeatedly and renewed their cries of, "run, Mike, run!"
The heckler left before the event was over.
Many in the crowd said they are unhappy with the current shape health care reform is taking.
Bill Quinn is a small business owner in Bristol. He said Fitzpatrick's years of community involvement in Bucks County shows that he listens to what people want.
"He's already done a great job. I'm looking for him to be a voice for Bucks County because he's in touch and involved in everything," said Quinn.
He has fears about the current health care reform agenda.
"We don't know how it's going to affect our taxes and premiums. Small business owners will get hit hard. I'm not rich. I can't afford to have taxes go up significantly," Quinn said.
Fitzpatrick said he believes the nation is heading in the wrong direction and that Congress is failing to properly address mounting job losses.
"We have to reform the health care industry. We don't need government to take over medical decisions that should be made by patients and their doctors. We need to empower patients and reduce costs," he said.
Fitzpatrick wants medical liability reform, he said. Furthermore, the system should be "permitting individuals and businesses to form associations to buy health insurance at lower rates, he said.
Neil Samuels, deputy chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, said he thinks voters are better off with Murphy.
"In these tough economic times, I think voters will go with the Army veteran fighting for good jobs in Bucks County over the serial politician who voted repeatedly to raise his own salary and to raise Bucks County property taxes," he said in an e-mail to the newspaper.
Kate Hansen, communications director for Patrick Murphy, responded in an e-mail, "Mike Fitzpatrick must be counting on massive voter amnesia - the people of the 8th District already rejected the failed Bush-Cheney-Fitzpatrick economic policies that got us into this mess in the first place."
Republican Rob Mitchell, who withdrew his candidacy for Congress in the Eighth District, is now backing Fitzpatrick. The self-proclaimed "Tea Party" candidate and businessman from Doylestown has said he wants to help Fitzpatrick beat Murphy in the race.
As Bucks County Commissioner, Fitzpatrick was involved in preserving more than 11,000 acres of natural spaces. He oversaw efforts to make upgrades to the county's outdated emergency management system and played a role in the five-county region's anti-terrorism task force.
In 2004 he joined Congress for two years, supporting federal educational funding for local school districts and fighting Republican efforts to scale back Medicaid spending.
He also worked to restore cuts to Amtrak funding and worked to open the National Veterans Cemetery in Bucks County.
The lifelong Bucks County resident, lawyer and graduate of Bishop Egan High School said he's eager to start work in Congress.
"I think that we need someone in Congress who's more concerned with the citizens of Bucks County than with extraneous photo opportunities. We don't need someone in Congress who's a rubber stamp for bad national policy or misplaced priorities," he said.
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Surrounded by his family, the former congressman said he's ready to make another bid to represent the 8th District.
Mike Fitzpatrick formally announced before a large crowd of cheering supporters Saturday morning that he is running for Congress.
As he stepped up to the dais on a lawn near St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, where he was treated for colon cancer in 2008, more than 300 supporters broke into chants of "Run, Mike, run!"
Surrounded by his family, Fitzpatrick said he's ready to try for the Eighth District seat once again after beating cancer into remission. The Republican candidate ran in 2006 but lost to Democrat Patrick Murphy, D-8. He faces a crowded field of Republicans hoping to snag the nomination.
"Being away has given me a fresh new outlook and a very clear vision,'' said Fitzpatrick. "Eighteen months ago, I did not expect to run again for public office. But I also didn't expect to see the runaway growth in the federal government, our national debt exploding, and so many fine Americans unemployed and underemployed."
His remarks were partially marred by a heckler in the crowd who repeatedly shouted, "How are you going to fix health care?" and other remarks as the crowd shushed him repeatedly and renewed their cries of, "run, Mike, run!"
The heckler left before the event was over.
Many in the crowd said they are unhappy with the current shape health care reform is taking.
Bill Quinn is a small business owner in Bristol. He said Fitzpatrick's years of community involvement in Bucks County shows that he listens to what people want.
"He's already done a great job. I'm looking for him to be a voice for Bucks County because he's in touch and involved in everything," said Quinn.
He has fears about the current health care reform agenda.
"We don't know how it's going to affect our taxes and premiums. Small business owners will get hit hard. I'm not rich. I can't afford to have taxes go up significantly," Quinn said.
Fitzpatrick said he believes the nation is heading in the wrong direction and that Congress is failing to properly address mounting job losses.
"We have to reform the health care industry. We don't need government to take over medical decisions that should be made by patients and their doctors. We need to empower patients and reduce costs," he said.
Fitzpatrick wants medical liability reform, he said. Furthermore, the system should be "permitting individuals and businesses to form associations to buy health insurance at lower rates, he said.
Neil Samuels, deputy chairman of the Bucks County Democratic Committee, said he thinks voters are better off with Murphy.
"In these tough economic times, I think voters will go with the Army veteran fighting for good jobs in Bucks County over the serial politician who voted repeatedly to raise his own salary and to raise Bucks County property taxes," he said in an e-mail to the newspaper.
Kate Hansen, communications director for Patrick Murphy, responded in an e-mail, "Mike Fitzpatrick must be counting on massive voter amnesia - the people of the 8th District already rejected the failed Bush-Cheney-Fitzpatrick economic policies that got us into this mess in the first place."
Republican Rob Mitchell, who withdrew his candidacy for Congress in the Eighth District, is now backing Fitzpatrick. The self-proclaimed "Tea Party" candidate and businessman from Doylestown has said he wants to help Fitzpatrick beat Murphy in the race.
As Bucks County Commissioner, Fitzpatrick was involved in preserving more than 11,000 acres of natural spaces. He oversaw efforts to make upgrades to the county's outdated emergency management system and played a role in the five-county region's anti-terrorism task force.
In 2004 he joined Congress for two years, supporting federal educational funding for local school districts and fighting Republican efforts to scale back Medicaid spending.
He also worked to restore cuts to Amtrak funding and worked to open the National Veterans Cemetery in Bucks County.
The lifelong Bucks County resident, lawyer and graduate of Bishop Egan High School said he's eager to start work in Congress.
"I think that we need someone in Congress who's more concerned with the citizens of Bucks County than with extraneous photo opportunities. We don't need someone in Congress who's a rubber stamp for bad national policy or misplaced priorities," he said.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Big budget shortfall..thanks Mr. Hellman
We knew this would be happening sooner than later. The folks who elected these board members into office should be outraged. After years of cutting and slashing just about everything to give a modest tax break(meanwhile our home values have decreased). There is nothing left to cut. Now the district faces a 1.1 million shortfall. Whatever happened to "being in the best financial position in years" as Mr. Hellman has previously stated. Every increase in expenditures such as health care costs and teachers salaries were know way ahead of time, this should be no surprise to the board, but apparently it is. The first cut should be for 25k, and we know where that could come from!
Board looks for ways to close 1.1 million budget shortfall
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville School District's first look at next year's budget shows a $1.1 million shortfall.
While district business administrator Paul DeAngelo does not have a tax estimate based on this initial view of an $18.5 million budget for 2010-11, he said the administration will do everything it can to keep any tax increase below the 3.4 percent district index according to the state's Act 1 code.
"We're going back to the drawing board. We're going to look at the budget line by line," he said at a preliminary budget presentation to the school board Wednesday evening.
He said Morrisville schools will consider a number of ways to balance the budget, including an expected $100,000 credit from Intermediate Unit No. 22 as well as reductions in energy expenditures and efficiencies in special education facilities.
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DeAngelo said a variety of factors are contributing to the deficit, including 8.56 percent higher premiums for health care, a projected increase in the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System, a $255,000 increase for the Bucks County Technical High School budget and decreases in local, state and federal revenues.
Teacher salaries and benefits, which make up about half of the budget, are expected to increase about 3.5 percent.
At next Wednesday's regular board meeting, the board plans to pledge not to increase taxes above 3.4 percent.
Board looks for ways to close 1.1 million budget shortfall
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville School District's first look at next year's budget shows a $1.1 million shortfall.
While district business administrator Paul DeAngelo does not have a tax estimate based on this initial view of an $18.5 million budget for 2010-11, he said the administration will do everything it can to keep any tax increase below the 3.4 percent district index according to the state's Act 1 code.
"We're going back to the drawing board. We're going to look at the budget line by line," he said at a preliminary budget presentation to the school board Wednesday evening.
He said Morrisville schools will consider a number of ways to balance the budget, including an expected $100,000 credit from Intermediate Unit No. 22 as well as reductions in energy expenditures and efficiencies in special education facilities.
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DeAngelo said a variety of factors are contributing to the deficit, including 8.56 percent higher premiums for health care, a projected increase in the Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System, a $255,000 increase for the Bucks County Technical High School budget and decreases in local, state and federal revenues.
Teacher salaries and benefits, which make up about half of the budget, are expected to increase about 3.5 percent.
At next Wednesday's regular board meeting, the board plans to pledge not to increase taxes above 3.4 percent.
Here we go again....
Well here we go again with the "renovations". The article says they will start in June when school lets out, but there is no mention of a completion date. And what's up with newly elected Ron Stout missing a meeting already?
Bids sought for elementary school renovations
By: Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
The Morrisville school board voted 7-0 to award bids for Grandview Elementary School renovations Wednesday evening.
School board members Robin Reithmeyer and Ronald Stout were absent.
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovations are to begin as soon as school lets out this June. They will include work similar to last summer's high school upgrades.
Meanwhile, work to replace Grandview's aged windows is nearly done.
Bids will go out today to renovate the building's heating systems, unit ventilators, rooftop units, fire alarms, exterior lights and corridor and classroom lighting.
Bids will also go out to replace Grandview Elementary's two boilers and to combine the school's two boiler rooms.
On Feb. 24, Vitetta Architects expects to make a presentation to the board about the lowest bidder for the work.
Bids sought for elementary school renovations
By: Manasee Wagh
Bucks County Courier Times
The Morrisville school board voted 7-0 to award bids for Grandview Elementary School renovations Wednesday evening.
School board members Robin Reithmeyer and Ronald Stout were absent.
The heating, ventilation and air conditioning renovations are to begin as soon as school lets out this June. They will include work similar to last summer's high school upgrades.
Meanwhile, work to replace Grandview's aged windows is nearly done.
Bids will go out today to renovate the building's heating systems, unit ventilators, rooftop units, fire alarms, exterior lights and corridor and classroom lighting.
Bids will also go out to replace Grandview Elementary's two boilers and to combine the school's two boiler rooms.
On Feb. 24, Vitetta Architects expects to make a presentation to the board about the lowest bidder for the work.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Weighing the Fitzpatrick factor
By: GARY WECKSELBLATT
Bucks County Courier Times
Should he enter the 8th District Congressional race, the fallout from a Republican Party endorsement could cause a fracture.
Mike Fitzpatrick's potential entry into the 8th District's crowded Republican field has been met with what amounts to a standing ovation by the GOP's hierarchy seeking to wrest the congressional post from Democrat Patrick Murphy.
And the reasons are obvious.
Fitzpatrick has a resume that already includes a congressional triumph, and he likely can extract cash from both the national party and local big shots - the lifeblood of a campaign and a talent Murphy has mastered.
These two credentials would certainly boost the former congressman's prospects of garnering the nomination if - when - he enters the race.
Then there are the nine announced candidates, none of whom has separated themselves from the pack four months before the May 18 primary, leaving Fitzpatrick an opening.
"I believe Mike will make an excellent congressman again," said Pat Poprick, vice chairwoman of the Bucks County Republican Committee. "He has always been very responsive to the community from as far back as his days as commissioner. I'd be shocked if he doesn't run."
Poprick's words carry significant clout. She says she's simply speaking her personal opinion, not necessarily that of the committee.
But in a year when Tea Party activists rue the deficit spending and health care legislation proposed by Democrats, they also have little faith in Republican leadership. They squawk at the thought of a party endorsement, fearing it could become a coronation and deny the 8th District an energetic primary.
Last Monday's candidates' forum, sponsored by The Kitchen Table Patriots whose initial grassroots effort was last spring's Tea Party at Washington Crossing State Park, shows the muscle the group is developing.
"Everybody's voice needs to be heard, that's the bottom line," Anastasia Przybylski, one of the KTP organizers, said of the candidates. "Mike Fitzpatrick, I wish him luck, but I sure hope that we have a primary."
Przybylski said the Bucks Republican Party should avoid endorsing any candidate in this race.
"I don't see the point," she said. "Just let it be. I think it could hurt Mike, make him look like he's part of the machine."
Poprick disagreed.
"Why have a party if we're not going to endorse?" she said. "That's our job."
Poprick applauded people like Przybylski for the energy they're bringing to the Republican Party, but said most Bucks County residents aren't politically active and don't get to see the candidates. "Many people rely on our recommendations," she said. "We listen to all of the candidates and let voters know what we think.
"It's an integral part of the party's job to do the screening for everybody. If we don't, shame on us."
Polls find that the Tea Party groups - those folks who flooded last summer's town hall meetings - are hardly a fringe group. In fact, they're more popular than Democrats or Republicans.
According to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 41 percent of likely voters now have a favorable opinion of folks like Przybyski, compared with 35 percent for Democrats and 28 percent for Republicans.
"The popularity of the parties is diminishing across the country," Przybyski said. "People feel disenfranchised with the process. I don't know if the party realizes that."
But she is loathe to use her organization's influence to form a third party. She saw what happened in New York's 23rd District when GOP leaders endorsed a candidate that supported the stimulus package. Activists instead chose a conservative candidate and in a three-way race the Democrats took the seat.
Advertisement "I'm 100 percent opposed to a third party," Przybyski said. "People need to get behind the winner and take out Murphy. An endorsement might make people engaged for the first time look for another candidate. That's the risk they're running."
Republican strategist Charlie Gerow of Quantum Communications said an endorsement doesn't take away a primary "unless the candidates make it so. There will be a primary on May 18. The question is how many people will be on the ballot."
Which is Poprick's point.
"Our endorsement doesn't say someone else can't run," she said. "It says we think this is best person to run. We're not stopping any body."
All signs point to Fitzpatrick looking for another shot at Murphy.
He was in Washington on Wednesday with GOP leaders hoping to round up support, The Hill reported.
Asked last week on WNPV about running, he said "I'm certainly considering it."
Fitzpatrick, 46, an attorney and former Bucks County Commissioner from Middletown, was congressman from 2004-06. He lost his re-election bid to Murphy, 36, and a two-term Democrat, in 2006 by 1,500 votes.
Democrat Larry Ceisler, a political analyst and publisher of PoliticsPa.com, said conservative activists should be pleased if Fitzpatrick is their nominee.
"I don't know what these people want," he said. "If you look at Mike Fitzpatrick's record, it mirrored that of (former Sen.) Rick Santorum. That's one of the reasons he lost.
"If they want a revolution and they want primaries, chances are they're not going to win general elections. Mike Fitzpatrick has an uphill battle as it is against Patrick Murphy. Bucks County is not the southern part of Mississippi. If they want to make it tougher for Republicans to regain this seat, fine with me."
Fitzpatrick's expected entry into the race has already changed expectations of at least one national pollster.
The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan publication that previously listed the 8th District as "safe Democratic" changed its status to "likely Democratic" because of Fitzpatrick.
"I expect this to become even more competitive," said David Wasserman, Cook's House editor.
He said Murphy's victories have come in a "political environment that has gone from perfect to ugly."
The candidates, he said, would be basically switching places four years later. Murphy becomes the incumbent supporting an unpopular president. Fitzpatrick is the challenger with an energized base.
"Bucks County, despite having trended toward Democrats in the last several decades, is not exactly Barack Obama's natural constituency. Voters are upset with way he's running the country and that reflects back on the congressional landscape."
Terry Madonna, director of the Franklin & Marshall College Poll, said the election will be about Obama.
"It's not about the personalities of the candidates," he said. "This is about Obama's stimulus, government control, health care, national security and Afghanistan. Is Patrick Murphy worth another term in that context."
Gerow, the Republican strategist, agreed.
"Patrick Murphy by his own choosing has cemented himself at the hip with Barack Obama. His political fortunes will rise or fall on the strength or weakness of Barack Obama. And right now he doesn't look too popular."
Congressional Quarterly's Scorecard, Roll Call's Outlook and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball maintain the seat as safe for Murphy.
"I expect the race would tighten and we would change this again next month," Wasserman said. "It's rare that we move more than one column at a time."
By: GARY WECKSELBLATT
Bucks County Courier Times
Should he enter the 8th District Congressional race, the fallout from a Republican Party endorsement could cause a fracture.
Mike Fitzpatrick's potential entry into the 8th District's crowded Republican field has been met with what amounts to a standing ovation by the GOP's hierarchy seeking to wrest the congressional post from Democrat Patrick Murphy.
And the reasons are obvious.
Fitzpatrick has a resume that already includes a congressional triumph, and he likely can extract cash from both the national party and local big shots - the lifeblood of a campaign and a talent Murphy has mastered.
These two credentials would certainly boost the former congressman's prospects of garnering the nomination if - when - he enters the race.
Then there are the nine announced candidates, none of whom has separated themselves from the pack four months before the May 18 primary, leaving Fitzpatrick an opening.
"I believe Mike will make an excellent congressman again," said Pat Poprick, vice chairwoman of the Bucks County Republican Committee. "He has always been very responsive to the community from as far back as his days as commissioner. I'd be shocked if he doesn't run."
Poprick's words carry significant clout. She says she's simply speaking her personal opinion, not necessarily that of the committee.
But in a year when Tea Party activists rue the deficit spending and health care legislation proposed by Democrats, they also have little faith in Republican leadership. They squawk at the thought of a party endorsement, fearing it could become a coronation and deny the 8th District an energetic primary.
Last Monday's candidates' forum, sponsored by The Kitchen Table Patriots whose initial grassroots effort was last spring's Tea Party at Washington Crossing State Park, shows the muscle the group is developing.
"Everybody's voice needs to be heard, that's the bottom line," Anastasia Przybylski, one of the KTP organizers, said of the candidates. "Mike Fitzpatrick, I wish him luck, but I sure hope that we have a primary."
Przybylski said the Bucks Republican Party should avoid endorsing any candidate in this race.
"I don't see the point," she said. "Just let it be. I think it could hurt Mike, make him look like he's part of the machine."
Poprick disagreed.
"Why have a party if we're not going to endorse?" she said. "That's our job."
Poprick applauded people like Przybylski for the energy they're bringing to the Republican Party, but said most Bucks County residents aren't politically active and don't get to see the candidates. "Many people rely on our recommendations," she said. "We listen to all of the candidates and let voters know what we think.
"It's an integral part of the party's job to do the screening for everybody. If we don't, shame on us."
Polls find that the Tea Party groups - those folks who flooded last summer's town hall meetings - are hardly a fringe group. In fact, they're more popular than Democrats or Republicans.
According to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 41 percent of likely voters now have a favorable opinion of folks like Przybyski, compared with 35 percent for Democrats and 28 percent for Republicans.
"The popularity of the parties is diminishing across the country," Przybyski said. "People feel disenfranchised with the process. I don't know if the party realizes that."
But she is loathe to use her organization's influence to form a third party. She saw what happened in New York's 23rd District when GOP leaders endorsed a candidate that supported the stimulus package. Activists instead chose a conservative candidate and in a three-way race the Democrats took the seat.
Advertisement "I'm 100 percent opposed to a third party," Przybyski said. "People need to get behind the winner and take out Murphy. An endorsement might make people engaged for the first time look for another candidate. That's the risk they're running."
Republican strategist Charlie Gerow of Quantum Communications said an endorsement doesn't take away a primary "unless the candidates make it so. There will be a primary on May 18. The question is how many people will be on the ballot."
Which is Poprick's point.
"Our endorsement doesn't say someone else can't run," she said. "It says we think this is best person to run. We're not stopping any body."
All signs point to Fitzpatrick looking for another shot at Murphy.
He was in Washington on Wednesday with GOP leaders hoping to round up support, The Hill reported.
Asked last week on WNPV about running, he said "I'm certainly considering it."
Fitzpatrick, 46, an attorney and former Bucks County Commissioner from Middletown, was congressman from 2004-06. He lost his re-election bid to Murphy, 36, and a two-term Democrat, in 2006 by 1,500 votes.
Democrat Larry Ceisler, a political analyst and publisher of PoliticsPa.com, said conservative activists should be pleased if Fitzpatrick is their nominee.
"I don't know what these people want," he said. "If you look at Mike Fitzpatrick's record, it mirrored that of (former Sen.) Rick Santorum. That's one of the reasons he lost.
"If they want a revolution and they want primaries, chances are they're not going to win general elections. Mike Fitzpatrick has an uphill battle as it is against Patrick Murphy. Bucks County is not the southern part of Mississippi. If they want to make it tougher for Republicans to regain this seat, fine with me."
Fitzpatrick's expected entry into the race has already changed expectations of at least one national pollster.
The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan publication that previously listed the 8th District as "safe Democratic" changed its status to "likely Democratic" because of Fitzpatrick.
"I expect this to become even more competitive," said David Wasserman, Cook's House editor.
He said Murphy's victories have come in a "political environment that has gone from perfect to ugly."
The candidates, he said, would be basically switching places four years later. Murphy becomes the incumbent supporting an unpopular president. Fitzpatrick is the challenger with an energized base.
"Bucks County, despite having trended toward Democrats in the last several decades, is not exactly Barack Obama's natural constituency. Voters are upset with way he's running the country and that reflects back on the congressional landscape."
Terry Madonna, director of the Franklin & Marshall College Poll, said the election will be about Obama.
"It's not about the personalities of the candidates," he said. "This is about Obama's stimulus, government control, health care, national security and Afghanistan. Is Patrick Murphy worth another term in that context."
Gerow, the Republican strategist, agreed.
"Patrick Murphy by his own choosing has cemented himself at the hip with Barack Obama. His political fortunes will rise or fall on the strength or weakness of Barack Obama. And right now he doesn't look too popular."
Congressional Quarterly's Scorecard, Roll Call's Outlook and Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball maintain the seat as safe for Murphy.
"I expect the race would tighten and we would change this again next month," Wasserman said. "It's rare that we move more than one column at a time."
Friday, January 15, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Mikey Fitz's guest piece in the BCCT
from the BCCT:
Challenge to Murphy: Listen to the people, not the partisans
Bucks County Courier Times
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
Recently I attempted to speak with Congressman Patrick Murphy about the disappointing votes being cast in Washington as the current Congress squanders an historic opportunity to improve health coverage for all Americans. He told me to call him later.
Bucks Countians have been waiting months for their representative in Congress to hear their concerns about the gaggle of bills under consideration in the Capitol. Despite repeated calls for a town hall meeting where constituents can meet their elected federal representative face-to-face, questions and concerns have gone unanswered.
The reason: Patrick Murphy is in favor of government control of healthcare. I know because he told me so.
And in his quest to vote for a "strong public option" (read: the beginning of the federal government taking over our health decision making), he rushed headlong into H.R. 3962 which provides:
For individual taxpayers: Higher taxes on high-income filers, federal mandates to purchase health insurance or be subject to federal penalties and exemptions for non-resident aliens. In conjunction with the passage of HR 3962 (by the slimmest of margins and with Patrick Murphy's full support), Murphy also voted to pass HR 3961, increasing physician reimbursements and deficit spending, which adds to the federal debt.
For employers: Practically every small business is now federally mandated to provide "qualified" coverage or be subject to a new, 8 percent tax. Employers are also limited in use of Flexible Savings Accounts, which I use to pay out of pocket medical expenses for my children and used for my own recent medical expenses in cancer recovery.
Advertisement For seniors: $571 billion has been slashed from your allocated Medicare funding; $170 billion has been cut from your Medicare Advantage Plans. Your Medicare D premiums will be increased to help pay for new federal programs your representatives deem nice to have.
Murphy's bill is packed with problems too numerous to mention in my limited space available. But Murphy's bad bill got worse in the U.S. Senate. Now we find out that, in addition to paying new Medicaid increases for Pennsylvania residents, we also are expected to pick up the cost for Nebraska residents because they "cut a deal" to buy Sen. Nelson's support. Still no comment from Patrick. Still no town hall meeting for his constituents.
Provide tax relief that makes it easier, not more difficult, for employers to provide health coverage. Reform the health justice system. Incentivize innovative solutions that fight healthcare fraud. There is $250 billion in easy money - currently wasted - in the federal health programs. Recover the money and use it to cover pre-existing conditions and to reward health care clinics that already provide coverage to the uninsured: the Mother Bachmann clinic in Bensalem, HealthLink in Southampton and The Free Clinic at Doylestown Hospital.
I firmly believe that the best solutions already exist in the communities across America. Our representatives should spend more time listening to us and less time listening to the partisans inside the Beltway. An old-fashioned, town hall meeting back home in Bucks County would be a good start.
January 12, 2010 07:43 AM
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pajmf, 01-12-10, 8:30 am | Rate: 1 | Report
Well written piece, Mr. Fitzpatrick! It sounds like you had the same problem getting responses from Congressman Murphy as I did when I contacted his office. I didn't even get a form letter response.
False Profit, 01-12-10, 9:50 am | Rate: -1 | Report
That sounds familiar. On January 29, 2009, 348 days ago, there was a public hearing in Morrisville about permanently closing an elementary school that suffered a debilitating furnace explosion on Dec. 13, 2008.
At the hearing, the public was promised written responses within a reasonable time to all the questions raised at the hearing. So far, no responses have been provided.
The 2 people who made this promise, and it's in the transcript, are:
School Board President Bill Hellmann; and
School Board Solicitor ......
Mike Fitzpatrick
Challenge to Murphy: Listen to the people, not the partisans
Bucks County Courier Times
By MIKE FITZPATRICK
Recently I attempted to speak with Congressman Patrick Murphy about the disappointing votes being cast in Washington as the current Congress squanders an historic opportunity to improve health coverage for all Americans. He told me to call him later.
Bucks Countians have been waiting months for their representative in Congress to hear their concerns about the gaggle of bills under consideration in the Capitol. Despite repeated calls for a town hall meeting where constituents can meet their elected federal representative face-to-face, questions and concerns have gone unanswered.
The reason: Patrick Murphy is in favor of government control of healthcare. I know because he told me so.
And in his quest to vote for a "strong public option" (read: the beginning of the federal government taking over our health decision making), he rushed headlong into H.R. 3962 which provides:
For individual taxpayers: Higher taxes on high-income filers, federal mandates to purchase health insurance or be subject to federal penalties and exemptions for non-resident aliens. In conjunction with the passage of HR 3962 (by the slimmest of margins and with Patrick Murphy's full support), Murphy also voted to pass HR 3961, increasing physician reimbursements and deficit spending, which adds to the federal debt.
For employers: Practically every small business is now federally mandated to provide "qualified" coverage or be subject to a new, 8 percent tax. Employers are also limited in use of Flexible Savings Accounts, which I use to pay out of pocket medical expenses for my children and used for my own recent medical expenses in cancer recovery.
Advertisement For seniors: $571 billion has been slashed from your allocated Medicare funding; $170 billion has been cut from your Medicare Advantage Plans. Your Medicare D premiums will be increased to help pay for new federal programs your representatives deem nice to have.
Murphy's bill is packed with problems too numerous to mention in my limited space available. But Murphy's bad bill got worse in the U.S. Senate. Now we find out that, in addition to paying new Medicaid increases for Pennsylvania residents, we also are expected to pick up the cost for Nebraska residents because they "cut a deal" to buy Sen. Nelson's support. Still no comment from Patrick. Still no town hall meeting for his constituents.
Provide tax relief that makes it easier, not more difficult, for employers to provide health coverage. Reform the health justice system. Incentivize innovative solutions that fight healthcare fraud. There is $250 billion in easy money - currently wasted - in the federal health programs. Recover the money and use it to cover pre-existing conditions and to reward health care clinics that already provide coverage to the uninsured: the Mother Bachmann clinic in Bensalem, HealthLink in Southampton and The Free Clinic at Doylestown Hospital.
I firmly believe that the best solutions already exist in the communities across America. Our representatives should spend more time listening to us and less time listening to the partisans inside the Beltway. An old-fashioned, town hall meeting back home in Bucks County would be a good start.
January 12, 2010 07:43 AM
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pajmf, 01-12-10, 8:30 am | Rate: 1 | Report
Well written piece, Mr. Fitzpatrick! It sounds like you had the same problem getting responses from Congressman Murphy as I did when I contacted his office. I didn't even get a form letter response.
False Profit, 01-12-10, 9:50 am | Rate: -1 | Report
That sounds familiar. On January 29, 2009, 348 days ago, there was a public hearing in Morrisville about permanently closing an elementary school that suffered a debilitating furnace explosion on Dec. 13, 2008.
At the hearing, the public was promised written responses within a reasonable time to all the questions raised at the hearing. So far, no responses have been provided.
The 2 people who made this promise, and it's in the transcript, are:
School Board President Bill Hellmann; and
School Board Solicitor ......
Mike Fitzpatrick
Decisions loom for school budgets
Why is it that there is hardly ever a mention about Morrisville when it comes to articles like the one below? We have a $25k a year communications director, who clearly has connections at the BCCT. Why no mention of all the good that is going on under the Hellmann regime? Day after day we see no mention of Morrisville when it comes to area school matters. Thumbs down to P.W.....again!
from the BCCT:
Decisions loom for school budgets
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
Most local school boards expect to seek special exceptions from the state to boost tax increases to help cover 2010-11 costs.
The squeeze is on for Bucks County school districts as they try to do more with less while framing their 2010-11 budgets.
The majority of Bucks County school districts will be able to raise property taxes 2.9 percent to cover increased expenses next school year without getting voter approval, according to state officials.
The allowable increase for 2010-11 is about 25 percent less than the 4.1 percent allowed by Act 1 - the state's 2006 property tax relief law - during the current school year.
School boards have until Jan. 28 to decide if taxes need to be raised above their districts' respective index. Many local districts are indicating they will need to go above the index by seeking exceptions from the state for certain expenses, including debt service, health care benefits and construction costs.
If those exceptions are approved, a school board would have the option to increase its district's respective index rate accordingly.
For instance, Bensalem officials are looking at whether exceptions can be requested for retirement contributions, special education expenses and revenue maintenance, said Jack Myers, the district's director of business operations.
The exceptions are needed, because, "as always, the district is faced with increased costs it does not control," Myers said. He estimates those uncontrollable costs are in the neighborhood of $7 million for next school year.
Myers is formulating how much those exceptions would add to the district's 2.9 percent index rate, and he'll give Bensalem's board its first look at the 2010-11 projections Wednesday night.
Other local boards, including Centennial and Neshaminy, will get their first looks at the 2010-11 estimated expenses beginning tonight.
Districts that do not have enough revenue to cover anticipate expenses, even with the additional tax revenue, have to ask voters' permission during the May primary to increase taxes further. No local districts have taken the referendum route since Act 1 took effect.
Council Rock doesn't plan to go down that path this year, either, district officials said last week. That district plans to rely on various exceptions to help cover 2010-11 expenses.
Bristol Township is expected to be one of the few area governing bodies to adopt a resolution, as it has in recent years, promising not to raise taxes above the district's 3.7 percent index rate allowed by the state. The board is set to vote on that resolution Jan. 19.
The index for each district is determined by averaging employment cost index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics with the statewide average weekly wage.
The Bristol Borough School District, at 3.8 percent, has the highest index rate of local school systems. District Business Manager Joseph Roe told Bristol's school board last week that a tax increase might be needed to help cover debt service for the new Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary/Middle School.
Roe said he's looking for ways to keep any possible tax increase to a minimum.
from the BCCT:
Decisions loom for school budgets
By: JOAN HELLYER
Bucks County Courier Times
Most local school boards expect to seek special exceptions from the state to boost tax increases to help cover 2010-11 costs.
The squeeze is on for Bucks County school districts as they try to do more with less while framing their 2010-11 budgets.
The majority of Bucks County school districts will be able to raise property taxes 2.9 percent to cover increased expenses next school year without getting voter approval, according to state officials.
The allowable increase for 2010-11 is about 25 percent less than the 4.1 percent allowed by Act 1 - the state's 2006 property tax relief law - during the current school year.
School boards have until Jan. 28 to decide if taxes need to be raised above their districts' respective index. Many local districts are indicating they will need to go above the index by seeking exceptions from the state for certain expenses, including debt service, health care benefits and construction costs.
If those exceptions are approved, a school board would have the option to increase its district's respective index rate accordingly.
For instance, Bensalem officials are looking at whether exceptions can be requested for retirement contributions, special education expenses and revenue maintenance, said Jack Myers, the district's director of business operations.
The exceptions are needed, because, "as always, the district is faced with increased costs it does not control," Myers said. He estimates those uncontrollable costs are in the neighborhood of $7 million for next school year.
Myers is formulating how much those exceptions would add to the district's 2.9 percent index rate, and he'll give Bensalem's board its first look at the 2010-11 projections Wednesday night.
Other local boards, including Centennial and Neshaminy, will get their first looks at the 2010-11 estimated expenses beginning tonight.
Districts that do not have enough revenue to cover anticipate expenses, even with the additional tax revenue, have to ask voters' permission during the May primary to increase taxes further. No local districts have taken the referendum route since Act 1 took effect.
Council Rock doesn't plan to go down that path this year, either, district officials said last week. That district plans to rely on various exceptions to help cover 2010-11 expenses.
Bristol Township is expected to be one of the few area governing bodies to adopt a resolution, as it has in recent years, promising not to raise taxes above the district's 3.7 percent index rate allowed by the state. The board is set to vote on that resolution Jan. 19.
The index for each district is determined by averaging employment cost index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics with the statewide average weekly wage.
The Bristol Borough School District, at 3.8 percent, has the highest index rate of local school systems. District Business Manager Joseph Roe told Bristol's school board last week that a tax increase might be needed to help cover debt service for the new Warren Snyder-John Girotti Elementary/Middle School.
Roe said he's looking for ways to keep any possible tax increase to a minimum.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sane Parenting workshop this Thurs
Saw this in the bcct this morning. Perhaps for this workshop there will be some school board members in attendance. Don't forget..tonight is the monthly PTO meeting. Any questions? Email: MorrisvillePTO@hotmail.com
Parents Workshop set
By: CARL LAVO
Bucks County Courier Times
Parents are invited to the Sane Parenting Workshop at Morrisville High School.
It will take place in the high school's LGI room from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. The workshop is for parents of students in pre-K to grade six. Participants will hear ways to cope with many everyday stressors of family life.
Advertisement It is sponsored by the Morrisville School District, 21st Century Grants Community Learning Center and the district's parent-teacher organization.
Parents Workshop set
By: CARL LAVO
Bucks County Courier Times
Parents are invited to the Sane Parenting Workshop at Morrisville High School.
It will take place in the high school's LGI room from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. The workshop is for parents of students in pre-K to grade six. Participants will hear ways to cope with many everyday stressors of family life.
Advertisement It is sponsored by the Morrisville School District, 21st Century Grants Community Learning Center and the district's parent-teacher organization.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Morrisville Borough swears in new councilmembers
Saw this on buckslocalnews.com:
Morrisville swears in new councilmembers
Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010
By Petra Chesner Schlatter;
BucksLocalNews.com
Nancy Sherlock has been unanimously re-elected as president of the Morrisville Borough Council. She has served in that capacity for the last two years.
Kathryn Panzitta was re-elected as vice president.
The vote came at the annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 4, when four new council members and one incumbent were sworn into office.
The new members are Victor Cicero, Rhonda Davis, Fred Kerner and Todd Sanford. Incumbent Eileen Dreisbach also gave the oath of office.
The new council voted 6-2 to hire a new engineering firm – Remington, Vernick and Beach of Conshohocken – replacing Pennoni and Associates of Philadelphia.
Also in a 6-2 vote, a new law firm was picked to represent the borough – Friedman-Schuman of Jenkintown – replacing Begley, Carlin and Mandio of Langhorne.
In an interview, Sherlock said one of the most important accomplishments for the borough has been the completion of the Bridge Street project.
She said the Delaware Toll Bridge Commission gave a “compact” grant to Morrisville, which is given to all river towns.
The commission gave the borough $775,000. Borough Council asked for more to extend the project. To date, the commission has given more than $1 million.
Sidewalks and new traffic lights were installed. Sherlock said she hopes the commission will allow the borough to use remaining money for decorative lights.
Another accomplishment, she said, was the planting of trees along Williamson Park as a shared program with Yardley Borough through the TreeVitalize project.
“Once they grow, it’s going to be a very beautiful ‘tree-scape,’” she said.
About the future, Sherlock said the borough would have “to get aggressive” to find grant monies.
Sherlock said the borough “should seek them out” and be as efficient with borough operations. “We have a very skinny budget,” she said.
Morrisville swears in new councilmembers
Published: Wednesday, January 6, 2010
By Petra Chesner Schlatter;
BucksLocalNews.com
Nancy Sherlock has been unanimously re-elected as president of the Morrisville Borough Council. She has served in that capacity for the last two years.
Kathryn Panzitta was re-elected as vice president.
The vote came at the annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 4, when four new council members and one incumbent were sworn into office.
The new members are Victor Cicero, Rhonda Davis, Fred Kerner and Todd Sanford. Incumbent Eileen Dreisbach also gave the oath of office.
The new council voted 6-2 to hire a new engineering firm – Remington, Vernick and Beach of Conshohocken – replacing Pennoni and Associates of Philadelphia.
Also in a 6-2 vote, a new law firm was picked to represent the borough – Friedman-Schuman of Jenkintown – replacing Begley, Carlin and Mandio of Langhorne.
In an interview, Sherlock said one of the most important accomplishments for the borough has been the completion of the Bridge Street project.
She said the Delaware Toll Bridge Commission gave a “compact” grant to Morrisville, which is given to all river towns.
The commission gave the borough $775,000. Borough Council asked for more to extend the project. To date, the commission has given more than $1 million.
Sidewalks and new traffic lights were installed. Sherlock said she hopes the commission will allow the borough to use remaining money for decorative lights.
Another accomplishment, she said, was the planting of trees along Williamson Park as a shared program with Yardley Borough through the TreeVitalize project.
“Once they grow, it’s going to be a very beautiful ‘tree-scape,’” she said.
About the future, Sherlock said the borough would have “to get aggressive” to find grant monies.
Sherlock said the borough “should seek them out” and be as efficient with borough operations. “We have a very skinny budget,” she said.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A message from the Morrisville PTO
We received an email from the PTO asking us to help get the word out about some upcoming events and meetings.
-On Monday 1/11 the monthly meeting will be held in the Grandview Cafeteria at 7pm. The focus for this meeting will be discussing the creation of the K-5 yearbook. The meeting is open to all parents and teachers of grades K-8, and is also open to anyone wishing to place an ad in the yearbook. The cost of the ad is $25 for a business card sized ad. The proceeds from the advertisements will offset some of the cost of the yearbooks, so that they can be offered $15.00 for the children.
-On Thursday 1/14 from 6:30 to 8pm in the LGI room of the IS/HS the Morrisville PTO and 21st Century Grants is sponsoring a "Sane Parenting Workshop" The workshop will be hosted by Dr. Shanken-Kaye. From the flyer we received: "Participants will learn how to cope with the many everyday stresses of family life, as well as how to cope with the really strange things that sometimes occur." The workshop focuses on parents of pre-K through 6th graders, but is open to the community.
The Morrisville PTO is the organization that sponsors all assemblies, book fairs, holiday shops, field day events, and of course the brand new school store that launched earlier this year at Grandview(the next date for the school store is 1/15 during lunchtime.
If you have any questions about what the PTO does, how you can help, or just want to get more involved feel free to send an email to MorrisvillePTO@hotmail.com
-On Monday 1/11 the monthly meeting will be held in the Grandview Cafeteria at 7pm. The focus for this meeting will be discussing the creation of the K-5 yearbook. The meeting is open to all parents and teachers of grades K-8, and is also open to anyone wishing to place an ad in the yearbook. The cost of the ad is $25 for a business card sized ad. The proceeds from the advertisements will offset some of the cost of the yearbooks, so that they can be offered $15.00 for the children.
-On Thursday 1/14 from 6:30 to 8pm in the LGI room of the IS/HS the Morrisville PTO and 21st Century Grants is sponsoring a "Sane Parenting Workshop" The workshop will be hosted by Dr. Shanken-Kaye. From the flyer we received: "Participants will learn how to cope with the many everyday stresses of family life, as well as how to cope with the really strange things that sometimes occur." The workshop focuses on parents of pre-K through 6th graders, but is open to the community.
The Morrisville PTO is the organization that sponsors all assemblies, book fairs, holiday shops, field day events, and of course the brand new school store that launched earlier this year at Grandview(the next date for the school store is 1/15 during lunchtime.
If you have any questions about what the PTO does, how you can help, or just want to get more involved feel free to send an email to MorrisvillePTO@hotmail.com
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Getting back up to speed
We are hearing that there was a great turnout for the swearing in of the new council members. Our best wishes goes out to all of the newly elected council members, and our new mayor also.
What's this about the heat being all out of wack at the IS/HS? Is the thermostat set too low, or is it a bigger problem? One would think after spending millions on a "renovation" the new state of the art boilers would be functioning properly. Let's hope it's just a minor glitch, and not a major problem. Can you say warranty?
Maybe newly elected school board member Mr. Stout can get to the bottom of this.
And lastly, has the School Board answered the questions from the public regarding M.R. Reiter? We can all assume that the school will never reopen, but seriously guys answer the questions already!
What's this about the heat being all out of wack at the IS/HS? Is the thermostat set too low, or is it a bigger problem? One would think after spending millions on a "renovation" the new state of the art boilers would be functioning properly. Let's hope it's just a minor glitch, and not a major problem. Can you say warranty?
Maybe newly elected school board member Mr. Stout can get to the bottom of this.
And lastly, has the School Board answered the questions from the public regarding M.R. Reiter? We can all assume that the school will never reopen, but seriously guys answer the questions already!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Boro Council reorganization tonight
Don't forget that tonight is the Boro council reorganization meeting at Boro hall from 7:30pm to 9pm.
We have a new mayor.....
Ledger sworn in as Morrisville mayor.
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
More than two dozen supporters crammed into a Morrisville courtroom to witness the "historic" swearing-in ceremony.
Morrisville Councilwoman Rita Ledger on Sunday was sworn in as Mayor Rita Ledger, the first woman to have that title in the borough's history.
Inside District Judge Michael Burns' Morrisville courtroom, Ledger, a Democrat, was joined by more than two dozen supporters, friends and family members for a swearing-in ceremony Sunday night. But according to a provision in the Pennsylvania Borough Code, she actually becomes mayor today - the first Monday of the new year.
With her 25-year-old son Mark Ledger standing by her side, the former councilwoman placed her left hand on the Bible her son was holding and raised her right hand in the air while she said her oath of office.
"I look forward to serving the borough of Morrisville as the first woman mayor," Ledger told her supporters. "I realize I am a marked woman because I am the first woman mayor."
Ledger then reiterated her priorities, saying she wants to see redevelopment in the borough's downtown business district along Bridge Street and to "move Morrisville into the 21st century" by utilizing alternative energy sources and using more energy efficient vehicles.
Jane Burger, a Republican whose 17 years on council came to an end last week, called Sunday a "historic moment."
"This just shows the support that this community has for Rita Ledger, our mayor," she said.
After all, Ledger lost her party's nomination in the primary election in May to fellow Democrat Patricia A. Schell. But with dozens of write-in votes by Republican voters, Ledger appeared on the November ballot under the GOP ticket.
Ledger then bested Schell by more than 200 votes and will replace Thomas Wisnosky as mayor. Wisnosky served as mayor for eight years but didn't seek re-election last year.
Ledger served as a Ward 1 councilwoman for four years. Before that, she sat on the Morrisville Zoning Hearing Board. Like other Pennsylvania boroughs, Morrisville has a weak mayor's office. Among its duties, the mayor supervises the police department and can also administer oaths and affirmations, declare states of emergency, break tied votes among borough council and veto council legislation.
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
More than two dozen supporters crammed into a Morrisville courtroom to witness the "historic" swearing-in ceremony.
Morrisville Councilwoman Rita Ledger on Sunday was sworn in as Mayor Rita Ledger, the first woman to have that title in the borough's history.
Inside District Judge Michael Burns' Morrisville courtroom, Ledger, a Democrat, was joined by more than two dozen supporters, friends and family members for a swearing-in ceremony Sunday night. But according to a provision in the Pennsylvania Borough Code, she actually becomes mayor today - the first Monday of the new year.
With her 25-year-old son Mark Ledger standing by her side, the former councilwoman placed her left hand on the Bible her son was holding and raised her right hand in the air while she said her oath of office.
"I look forward to serving the borough of Morrisville as the first woman mayor," Ledger told her supporters. "I realize I am a marked woman because I am the first woman mayor."
Ledger then reiterated her priorities, saying she wants to see redevelopment in the borough's downtown business district along Bridge Street and to "move Morrisville into the 21st century" by utilizing alternative energy sources and using more energy efficient vehicles.
Jane Burger, a Republican whose 17 years on council came to an end last week, called Sunday a "historic moment."
"This just shows the support that this community has for Rita Ledger, our mayor," she said.
After all, Ledger lost her party's nomination in the primary election in May to fellow Democrat Patricia A. Schell. But with dozens of write-in votes by Republican voters, Ledger appeared on the November ballot under the GOP ticket.
Ledger then bested Schell by more than 200 votes and will replace Thomas Wisnosky as mayor. Wisnosky served as mayor for eight years but didn't seek re-election last year.
Ledger served as a Ward 1 councilwoman for four years. Before that, she sat on the Morrisville Zoning Hearing Board. Like other Pennsylvania boroughs, Morrisville has a weak mayor's office. Among its duties, the mayor supervises the police department and can also administer oaths and affirmations, declare states of emergency, break tied votes among borough council and veto council legislation.
THIS BLOG IS NOT DEAD!!!
We would like to apologize for the brief hiatus of this blog. The results of the School Board election in Nov. really took the wind out of our sails more than expected ,and our hearts and minds had to connect once again to be true to our ourselves and our community.
Upon the realization of the need for such a resource as this, we would like to let you know that the "Morrisville's Future" blog is back and more ready than ever to keep you informed and to give you the people of Morrisville the info you deserve.
Welcome Back!
Upon the realization of the need for such a resource as this, we would like to let you know that the "Morrisville's Future" blog is back and more ready than ever to keep you informed and to give you the people of Morrisville the info you deserve.
Welcome Back!
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