The Northgate School Board can balance the coming year's budget, but it will not be able to raise taxes enough next year to fund the 2012-13 budget.

That is the rationale expressed by a majority of board members for why they plan to vote in favor of a 2011-12 property tax millage increase next week.

Finance committee chairman Daniel O'Keefe said at the board's work session on June 13 that of the $1.6 million cut from Northgate's budget for the coming year, about $1 million is a one-time savings due to retirements and staff furloughs.

The proposed final budget that will be voted on by the Northgate School Board Monday night will not include an increase in property taxes. It also will not include full-day kindergarten, a spring musical or a number of classes that could be lost due to teacher furloughs.

Although the board will vote Monday to approve the final proposal for spending in 2011-12, that proposal will not become the final budget until the board votes on June 20.

Northgate’s 2011-12 budget is “in deep trouble” after funding cuts in the proposed state budget threaten to add another $700,000 to the existing deficit.

Finance committee chairman Daniel O’Keefe said at Monday’s committee of the whole school board meeting that Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed spending plan is expected to reduce Northgate’s reimbursements and state revenue by some $640,000 to $700,000.

Added to the previously projected deficit of approximately $900,000, the district now needs to make up between $1.3 million and $1.5 million.

Avalon’s Quality of Life Committee will sponsor a home improvement contest this summer, with cash prizes awarded to the winners.

The borough council voted 6-1 at Wednesday’s meeting to donate $1,000 for the prizes. Finance committee chairman Robert Powell was opposed because no one could designate where the funds would come from in this year’s budget.

Bellevue officials are having trouble figuring out how they are going to pay a pool management company just hired by the borough.

Council members Linda Woshner and Jane Braunlich pointed out that council budgeted only $56,000 for pool salaries this year, and hiring Swim America for the summer will cost the borough $85,000.

Finance committee chairman Mark Panichella said that the borough treasurer had referred council to a particular budgetary line item, only it turned out that the line item of $122,000 referred to revenue, not expenditures.

In the black

Avalon Borough will end the fiscal year in the black, according to council finance committee chairman Tom Michalow.

Michalow said that the borough will have between $38,000 and $58,000 left over at the end of 2009, thanks in part to a $35,000 street repair loan payment budgeted for this year which did not have to be made.

Budget cuts?

Avonworth administrators may look to budget cuts for Avonworth Elementary School in order to provide additional consulting services at the school.

Board treasurer Frank Mucha said at the board's regular meeting on Monday that the district is looking at entering into an agreement with John Esaias for consulting services for the first semester of this school year.

The agreement would pay Esaias $50 per hour, to work two days a week, at a cost not to exceed $12,500.

Taxpayers in the Avonworth School District may be looking at a lower millage increase than previously projected, with stimulus and reserve funds making up the difference.