When the past Blackhawk School Board attempted to buy the last election by not raising taxes, they put the annual budget in a deficit that another tax increase cannot cover.
This action, along with providing over $2 million toward an unneeded football stadium instead of the promised re-opening of Northwestern School, has given the current school board little leeway to fiscally recover.
The board needs to keep the following in mind when voting on the annual budget next week:
• Blackhawk teachers are among the highest paid in Beaver County with an average salary nearing $70,000.
• Tax millage has increased 50 percent from 44 to 66 mills since 2005. While enrollment has dropped, administrative staff has increased.
Several actions need immediate attention. Enact state Rep. Jim Christiana’s House Bill 1531 verbatim at the next board meeting. Too many board meetings have been convened at times seemingly meant to limit public attendance.
BAAG’s initial plan to build a stadium at no cost to the taxpayers was poorly planned with the cost grossly underestimated. Place the onus on BAAG to provide the balance of money needed to complete the stadium and repay the $2 million.
Chippewa Elementary school costs taxpayers $500,000 dollars a year, mostly in maintenance fees. It needs to be closed and Northwestern School reopened.
The experimental part-time superintendent has proven to be a highly questionable proposition. Financial missteps over the past two years have caused irreparable harm to the district’s fiscal status. Rectify this.
Dave Sutton, South Beaver Township