The FREE section of
this PSBA campaign targets unfunded mandates in 3 specific categories:
1. Personnel Management – furloughs,
collective bargaining, school nurses, etc.
2.
School Funding – special education funding, cyber charter school funding
3.
Buildings, Construction, Operations and Transportation – bidding,
transportation, delinquent real estate tax collection, and prevailing wage
*(The “Plus” portion deals with waivers that would allow school boards to suspend a wider scope of
mandates)
The
two unfunded mandates mentioned by WCASD Board PSBA representative, Maureen
Snook, fall into FREE category #3:
1. Delinquent
R/E tax collection: Mrs. Snook cited HB
1877, which amends the Real
Estate Tax Sale Law,
allowing school districts to forego
the commission paid to a local county tax claim bureau and to utilize the services of entities other
than the local county tax claims office for collection of delinquent real
estate taxes. Basically, the district would
save the 5% commission paid to the County on delinquent taxes. Read recent House Finance Committee testimony
by Cheltenham School District business manager on HB1877: http://www.psba.org/issues-advocacy/advocacy-services/legislative-testimony/2012/HB1877-delinquent_property_tax_collection-02132012.pdf
2. Prevailing Wage Act, HB
1329: School districts must pay state-mandated prevailing wage rates for workers on every construction or
renovation project in which estimates exceed $25,000. This bill would raise the
threshold to $185,000 and create an annual inflation adjustment to that threshold. Mrs. Snook reports WCASD has six-eight $25,000+ projects per year and the district
could save between $120-180,000/year if the threshold were raised. To see a great example of PSBA advocacy in
action, read about the Donegal School Board who unanimously passed a PSBA
resolution to support prevailing wage reform: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/599543_Donegal-board-supports-prevailing-wage-reform.html
The
introduction of the FREE Plus campaign, though admittedly implicit, is
encouraging and we remain optimistic
that our Board PSBA representative will
continue to provide us with information about additional
unfunded mandates included in the initiative. (Visit http://www.psba.org/free-plus/ for more details on how local boards can “encourage
elected officials to approve legislation aimed at providing meaningful mandate relief”).
Mrs.
Snook also serves as our legislative liaison
and that portion of her report cited the deficiencies of the STEB (State Tax
Equalization Board) system. We were
reminded that both Dr. Moore, through
correspondence with PA Auditor General Jack Wagner and Dr. Scanlon, through
discussions with legislators, continue to question the inequity of this system
on behalf of WCASD. One will recall this past December when the WC board unanimously approved the hiring of PFM/Civic Research as a consultant for a STEB appeal, believing their market values were certified as higher than they actually are. We are confident that our legislative liaison will also take an active role in reinforcing the administration’s opposition and continue to inform and empower the community through legislative updates.
Who/what
is STEB? The
State Tax Equalization Board is appointed by the Governor and approved by the
Legislature for a term of four years. The STEB determines annually the
“aggregate market value of taxable real property in each political subdivision
and school district throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”. Market values are certified annually to the
Department of Education and the respective school districts on or before July 1
of each year and are used by the Department of Education as one factor in a
legislative formula for the distribution of
state subsidies to each school district.
Want more? Visit http://www.steb.state.pa.us
What
does PA Auditor General Jack Wagner have to do with STEB? The Department of Education,
school districts and taxpayers noted significant discrepancies between 2007 and 2008 market values. Wagner’s office was asked by members of the
General Assembly to review the STEB’s process for annually calculating and
certifying market values of taxable property. The audit resulted in the following findings:
1) The Revised 2008 Market
Value Report was incorrect and could adversely affect the recently published
2009 report: the “incorrect” 2008 market
value report was originally released in
June 2009, with a revised report issued
in August, 2010 . However, in October
2010, Wagner’s office suggested to the STEB that it consider conducting a
complete review of that 2008 revised report
to ensure accuracy prior to releasing
the 2009 market value report. The STEB
Chairman found additional review unnecessary and went forward with the release
of the 2009 market value report without completing
Wagner’s suggested review.
2) STEB certified and
published inaccurate 2008 market values due to lack of management
oversight and controls, i.e., human
error. For much more on the STEB audit and findings, see http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Department/Press/WagnerFindsSignificantFlaws.html
Or better yet, come hear about STEB calculations, school
funding formulas and “The Real Impact of the Proposed State Budget on Public
Education” when the Auditor General visits Stetson Middle School on Monday,
March 19. The Bayard Rustin High School
Brass Ensemble will introduce the event with a performance at 6:30 PM and the Auditor General will speak to the public at 7. He will also take a few questions from the
audience after his presentation, so you are encouraged to visit http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us before the event to familiarize yourself with the duties and responsibilities of the “independent
fiscal watchdog for Pennsylvania taxpayers”.
Other audits of possible interest/reading enjoyment:
http://www.auditorgen.state.pa.us/Department/Press/WagnerAgainUrgesFixFlawedCharterSchoolFunding.html
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20120306_ap_pasenatorstargetschoolsuperintendentbuyouts.html
I close with a piece
of legislation absent from the legislative report, but mentioned by an audience member during
closing comments: SB 327 is a bill that would take the office of school board
director out of the primary election, thus abolishing the need for party
endorsement of that position. A
candidate wishing to run for the office of school board director would
circulate nomination papers for signatures (the number needed would depend on
the “class” of the district) and their name could appear on the ballot in
November, regardless of party affiliation. I hope you will agree that such a bill is a critical first step in attempting to
remove party politics, personal agendas and political aspirations from the
elected office of school board director.
Please stay tuned on where and when to find out more about SB 327 and
how you can help Pennsylvania join the 47 other states who have non-partisan
school board elections.
A personal note: March is Women's History Month and I find the theme for 2012 particularly fitting: Women's Education and Empowerment. 2012 is the 40th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Codes of the Higher Education Act Amendments. This legislation was passed in 1972 and enacted in 1977 and prohibited gender discrimination by federally funded institutions. I was not blogging in February for Black History month, and must also acknowledge what would be the 100th birthday of Bayard Rustin on March 17th. Rustin is not simply a building or a "lights issue". Bayard Rustin was a West Chester native who devoted his life to the causes of civil rights,non-violence and acceptance of all lifestyles. So while you're raising your glasses of green "cheer" on St. Patrick's Day, please raise one for Bayard, thanks.
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