May 20th Finance Committee Meeting
Attached below is the agenda for the May 20th Finance Committee meeting. The meeting is open to the public and starts at 7:00 PM in the high school LGI room.
Business Office
2013-14 Proposed Final Budget
Attached below is the PDE-2028 form for the 2013-14 proposed final budget. The proposed final budget was approved by the School Board on April 15, 2013. This is the document that must be made available for public inspection. The final budget is scheduled for approval on June 3, 2013. The proposed final budget may still be changed prior to final budget adoption.
Budget Workshop April 8, 2013
Below is the presentation material from the April 8th budget workshop.
Budget Workshop March 11, 2013
The agenda for the March 11th budget workshop appears below. The workshop starts at 7 PM in the high school LGI and is open to the public with no admission charge.
Also included below is the presentation document from the meeting.
Also included below is the presentation document from the meeting.
Act 1 Retirement Exception
A check of the PDE website indicates the Act 1 exception for retirement has been approved in the amount of $819,719. See screen shot of PDE website below. However, the official notification from PDE in the form of a letter has not yet been received.
3/21/2013 update: We have received the official notification letter from PDE that the retirement exception was approved. See second file below.
3/21/2013 update: We have received the official notification letter from PDE that the retirement exception was approved. See second file below.
Finance Committee Meeting Highlights
Attached below are the presentation documents from the Finance Committee meeting from February 25, 2013.
Presentation slides:
Scenario 1 budget projections - 1.49% tax increase in 2013-14
Scenario 2 budget projections - 2.86% tax increase in 2013-14
Presentation slides:
Scenario 1 budget projections - 1.49% tax increase in 2013-14
Scenario 2 budget projections - 2.86% tax increase in 2013-14
Pension Reform
Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials:
Governor Corbett’s pension reform plan is a responsible approach to ensure the long term strength of the system, and guarantees no changes to benefits for retirees and no changes to benefits accrued by current employees through the effective date of the plan.
Moving new employees to a defined contribution plan
• State Employees’ Retirement System, or SERS, employees hired after Jan. 1, 2015 and Public School Employees’ Retirement System, or PSERS, employees hired after July 1, 2015 will be enrolled in a 401(a) defined contribution plan, similar to a 401(k) plan.
• To ensure that the commonwealth’s new employees have an adequate retirement, enrollment in the 401(a) plan will be automatic, and most state employees will be required to contribute at least 6.25 percent of their salary to their plan, while public school employees will need to contribute at least 7.5 percent.
Governor Corbett’s pension reform plan is a responsible approach to ensure the long term strength of the system, and guarantees no changes to benefits for retirees and no changes to benefits accrued by current employees through the effective date of the plan.
Moving new employees to a defined contribution plan
• State Employees’ Retirement System, or SERS, employees hired after Jan. 1, 2015 and Public School Employees’ Retirement System, or PSERS, employees hired after July 1, 2015 will be enrolled in a 401(a) defined contribution plan, similar to a 401(k) plan.
• To ensure that the commonwealth’s new employees have an adequate retirement, enrollment in the 401(a) plan will be automatic, and most state employees will be required to contribute at least 6.25 percent of their salary to their plan, while public school employees will need to contribute at least 7.5 percent.
Fast State Budget Facts
Here are the major items:
Basic Education Funding--Up 1.7% ($90 million)
Accountability Block Grant--Flat Funded
Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance--up $6.4 million 5%+ increase in each line item
Transportation--Up 2.5% ($13.6 million)
Special Education--Flat Funded (again)
Food Service--Up 2.4% ($762 million)
Social Security--Flat Funded
Retirement--Up 26.2% ($224 million; more to come on pensions)
Total PDE--Up 3.4% ($338 million/$224 for pension increase)
Basic Education Funding--Up 1.7% ($90 million)
Accountability Block Grant--Flat Funded
Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance--up $6.4 million 5%+ increase in each line item
Transportation--Up 2.5% ($13.6 million)
Special Education--Flat Funded (again)
Food Service--Up 2.4% ($762 million)
Social Security--Flat Funded
Retirement--Up 26.2% ($224 million; more to come on pensions)
Total PDE--Up 3.4% ($338 million/$224 for pension increase)
Governor Corbett's 2013-14 Budget
I have obtained an advance copy of Governor Corbett's budget presentation. See below. Sorting through the 1,000+ pages.
View our live updates via Twitter @UpperMerionSD.
View our live updates via Twitter @UpperMerionSD.
Treasurer's Report - January
Attached below you will find the treasurer's report for the January 7, 2013, School Board meeting. This report is provided to the School Board on a monthly basis and provides a financial snapshot of the district's financial position. The district's various accounts and balances are listed in detail. This report also includes the list of payments made during the month of November.
State Budget Address
Governor Corbett will unveil his 2013-14 state budget on Tuesday,
February 5, before a joint session of the PA House and Senate. The
budget address is usually delivered around 11 AM.
Tune in to any of the following websites to watch the budget address:
PCN - http://pcntv.com/
PA House of Representatives, Democratic Caucus - http://www.pahouse.com/
PA House of Representatives, Republican Caucus - http://pahousegop.com/
The Governor's budget address is very critical for Upper Merion Area School District. This will be our first look at what we might expect to receive in State funding for the 2013-2014 year. Upper Merion receives about 12% of its revenues from State funding. For the 2012-2013 fiscal year, $9.1 million is budgeted for State funding. The preliminary budget for 2013-2014 has $10.2 million budgeted for State funding.
Tune in to any of the following websites to watch the budget address:
PCN - http://pcntv.com/
PA House of Representatives, Democratic Caucus - http://www.pahouse.com/
PA House of Representatives, Republican Caucus - http://pahousegop.com/
The Governor's budget address is very critical for Upper Merion Area School District. This will be our first look at what we might expect to receive in State funding for the 2013-2014 year. Upper Merion receives about 12% of its revenues from State funding. For the 2012-2013 fiscal year, $9.1 million is budgeted for State funding. The preliminary budget for 2013-2014 has $10.2 million budgeted for State funding.
2013-2014 Preliminary Budget
The 2013-2014 preliminary budget is scheduled for School Board approval
on Monday, February 4, 2013, at the School Board meeting. The
district is required to complete a Pennsylvania Department of Education
form called the "PDE-2028" as part of the budget approval process. This
document must be made available for public inspection at least 20 days
prior to the passage of the preliminary budget.
The PDE-2028 document is posted on the district's website and can be downloaded below as well. It is important to note that changes to the budget may be made between now and the February 4th meeting. As new information is learned or assumptions are fine-tuned, the budget is updated accordingly.
As always, please feel free to e-mail me at sskrocki@umasd.org if you have any questions about this document.
The PDE-2028 document is posted on the district's website and can be downloaded below as well. It is important to note that changes to the budget may be made between now and the February 4th meeting. As new information is learned or assumptions are fine-tuned, the budget is updated accordingly.
As always, please feel free to e-mail me at sskrocki@umasd.org if you have any questions about this document.
Budget Workshops
Community budget workshop meetings will be held for district residents.
There will be a review of the district’s budget and the factors that
contribute to the budget development. This is an excellent opportunity
to ask questions, make suggestions and help the district establish the
priorities of the Upper Merion Area School District community.
All workshops will be held at the high school LGI and are open to the public. The workshops will also be televised. Please attend these important meetings on the following dates:
Monday, March 11th 7 PM Budget Workshop
Monday, April 8th 7PM Budget Workshop
Monday, April 15th 7PM ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET
Monday, June 3rd 7 PM ADOPTION OF FINAL BUDGET
All workshops will be held at the high school LGI and are open to the public. The workshops will also be televised. Please attend these important meetings on the following dates:
Monday, March 11th 7 PM Budget Workshop
Monday, April 8th 7PM Budget Workshop
Monday, April 15th 7PM ADOPTION OF THE PROPOSED FINAL BUDGET
Monday, June 3rd 7 PM ADOPTION OF FINAL BUDGET
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the finances of the Upper Merion Area School District. I am also willing to present to any community group or organization.
Steve Skrocki
Business Administrator
Office: 610-205-6417
Cell: 610-213-9820
Email: sskrocki@umasd.org
Steve Skrocki
Business Administrator
Office: 610-205-6417
Cell: 610-213-9820
Email: sskrocki@umasd.org
2013-2014 Preliminary Budget Presentation from 1/14/2013
A budget workshop was held on Monday, January 14, 2013, to discuss the draft 2013-2014 preliminary budget. A copy of the presentation appears below. The School Board will consider the Preliminary Budget for approval at the February 4th Board meeting.
Treasurer's Report - December
Attached below you will find the treasurer's report for the December 3, 2012, School Board meeting. This report is provided to the School Board on a monthly basis and provides a financial snapshot of the district's financial position. The district's various accounts and balances are listed in detail. This report also includes the list of payments made during the month of October.
2011-2012 Audit Report
The 2011-2012 Upper Merion Area School District audit report is attached. The district's auditors, Maillie, Falconiero & Company, LLP, made a presentation at the November finance committee meeting. Mr. Ed Furman, audit partner, complimented the district for improving its fund balance (reserves) position. The district received an unqualified audit report with no findings which is very positive.
2011-2012 Annual Financial Report (AFR)
The annual financial report (AFR) is submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) each year after the audit is completed. Every school district in Pennsylvania is required to follow the same format for reporting. The document is also referred to as the PDE-2057. The Upper Merion Area School District AFR for the fiscal year ending 6/30/2012 is attached. Please feel free to e-mail me at sskrocki@umasd.org if you have any questions.
School Closing
The Upper Merion Area School District and offices will be CLOSED on Monday and Tuesday (10/29 and 10/30) due to the anticipated weather from Hurricane Sandy.
8/20 Finance Committee Meeting Agenda
Attached below is the finance committee meeting agenda for Monday, August 20, 2012. The meeting starts at 7 PM and will be held in the high school LGI room.
