Look for county-wide school board election stories in regional newspapers.
The school district budget and how to fund it is the number one issue named by all candidates running for Octorara Area School Board seats Nov. 3.
All candidates are incumbents except for Democrat John McCartney of Sadsbury Township, Lancaster County, who is running along with incumbent Republican Sam Ganow of West Fallowfield Township in Region 2 for two available seats.
School board President Duane Hershey, a 12-year board veteran, is not running again in Region 2, which includes the municipalities of Sadsbury and West Fallowfield townships.
Hershey, who said he has “really enjoyed” his tenure, said the main issue facing the school board is “what our school district can afford.
“Financially, it’s always been a struggle,” said Hershey.
The rural school district straddling both Lancaster and Chester counties has a limited business tax base and its residents have also endured the shifting of about $150,000 million in revenue annually on to the tax bills of homeowners due to Clean and Green, according to State Rep. Bryan Cutler.
Cutler has introduced House Bill 1788 to shift the burden of lost Clean and Green revenue from homeowners. Cutler said he has been promised a hearing this fall and that a financial impact study should be completed by next fall.
Proponents of Clean and Green say protecting farm land from housing developments means fewer students to educate and pay for.
“They are absolutely correct on that point,” said Cutler. “However, the state is also saving money by not having to pay for these extra students and currently all of the costs are being borne by the local taxpayers.
“I believe that the state should help with some of the costs associated with this since they also save money,” Cutler said.
In Chester County, state Rep. Tom Houghton is chairing the Octorara Regional Council which is focused on bringing more business revenue into the school district. A developer recently toured the district with Houghton and school board members to scope out possibilities for development.
Octorara board candidates, however, will face another budget season before either state representative is able to deliver relief.
McCartney, a retired registered nurse who also works part-time for JB Zimmerman in Christiana, was a founding member of Clasta, the Chesland Anti-School Tax Association in 2007. The group is a member of the PTCC, the Pennsylvania Taxpayers Cyber Coalition, which supports House Bill 1275 and the elimination of school property taxes (to be phased out 25 percent a year for four years). The bill would fund schools with a six percent sales tax, while broadening the sales tax base to include more services and purchases.
“I think everyone has to realize we’re in a difficult situation,” McCartney said, adding that property owners are being squeezed.
McCartney said taxpayers should also expect another 20-30 percent increase in property taxes to return lost invested revenue to the state teachers pension fund.
“We’re going to have to tighten our belts and ride it out,” he said. “Academics should be ultimate.”
Private funding of school sports, an experiment recently carried through by the Octorara Football Club, is a possibility eyed by both McCartney and Ganow. The club privately began a junior varsity and varsity program, which the district accepted into the athletic program this year.
“It depends on who’s doing the funding,” said McCartney.
“I’d like it (private funding of school sports) not to be an issue,” said Ganow, now in his sixth year as a board member. “Every budget is difficult because of limited resources. Sports becomes an issue when you get down to the end. It’s going to become more of an issue because if the budget gets too high it has to go to referendum.”
Ganow said he is unaware of any successful budget referendums and that education has to be “number one, not other things.”
In Region 3, incumbents Robert Hume, who has cross-filed as a Republican and Democrat, and Republican Nelson Stoltzfus, are both running to retain their seats unopposed. Region 3 includes Highland and Londonderry townships, and Parkesburg South.
Hume agreed with other candidates that the tax base is the biggest issue.
“We have a small tax base,” Hume said. “Poverty is an issue in Chester County.”
Stoltzfus did not return a reporter’s call or email.
All seats in Region 1, representing Atglen and Christiana Boroughs, Parkesburg North, and West Sadsbury Township, expire in 2011. However, Peter Mango, a Region 1 board member and retiring municipal police chief, is announcing his resignation Oct. 19. He’s beginning a private security firm.
Since there isn’t time for a candidate to run a campaign, Superintendent Tom Newcome is accepting resumes and letters of interest to fill Mango’s unexpired term until Nov. 2. The school board will then hold a special meeting to interview candidates and select a board member.