During the latest work session of the Coatesville Area School District Board of Education, the final proposed budget to be displayed and advertised to the public was approved, before discussion moved to plans with the Chester County Intermediate Unit for Gordon Elementary, writes Lauren Parker- Gill for the Times of Chester County.

During the meeting, Business Manager, Ron Kabonick, presented a projected balanced budget for 2016/2017, with revenues and expenditures totaling $154,794,245 with a 3.1% tax increase. While the increase is higher than the statewide Act 1 index of 2.4%, it is still within the adjusted limit that is allowed for school districts with weakened tax bases.

Though the district has the right to additional increases under exceptions to the Act 1 limit for pensions and special education, the board voted to display and advertise the proposed budget, indicating that no further exceptions would be applied and that the 3.1% increase will hold.

CASD’s board of directors also discussed plans to lease the Gordon Elementary Building to the Chester County Intermediate Unit for its Head Start preschool program. This would enable the CCIU to increase the number of CASD students it services to 500 at no additional cost to the district. According to the agreement, the CCIU will be responsible for any repairs or renovations up to $15,000 per single repair. After the first year, the terms on repairs will stay the same, but a $60,000 yearly rental fee will be added with potential annual increases.

Read about other issues discussed at the CASD session at the Times of Chester County here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of the Coatesville Area School District here.