2022-23 Budget Information

All Dates are tentative and subject to change 
Note: Presentation Link will be active after the Board Meeting


November 17, 2021 - Debt Service, Warehouse/Transportation, and Building Budgets

  • The Act 1 Index for Palisades School District for the 2022-2023 budget year is 3.4%. This is the maximum increase allowable for the District without seeking exceptions. This index is set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

  • The Transportation budget has increased $288,500 due to the unknown cost of fuel and other ramifications due to the expiration of our current transportation contract on June 30, 2021. The District hopes to lock in fuel if and when the price decreases. The Board is actively working on the transportation contract for next year.

  • The debt service budget shows an increase of $78,875. However, the Board refinanced a bond issue and realized  $76,000 in savings in the 2021-2022 budget so the debt service line has stayed relatively flat from the preliminary 2021-2022 budget.


December 6, 2021 - Equipment, Administration, Building Maintenance, Capital Projects, and Other Education

  • The proposed equipment budget for the district includes updated furniture, additional AED units around the District, and PHS auditorium sound system upgrades at the building level. The budget also includes much needed upgrades to our Wastewater Treatment Plant. The total of all equipment requests is $79,565

  • The administration budget included a budgetary increase of $18,900 or 2.9%. The increase is due to an increase in anticipated legal fees for the year and an estimated increase in liability insurance. These two increases are partially offset by a decrease in real estate tax bond insurance that is only needed once every 4 years.  

  • The Capital Projects budget includes an increase due to the scheduled replacement of the Tinicum roof. Additional projects in the budget include: Gold Gym locker rooms upgrade, PALMS air conditioning of first floor rooms, wastewater treatment plant upgrades, stadium lighting upgrade, several facility upgrades, and safety and security upgrades. All Capital Project money is paid for from fund balance (district savings account) and does not add to the taxpayers’ property tax bill. The Capital Projects budget includes those requested items for the upcoming school year, however, the final budget will include only those requests that are actually approved as we move through the budgeting process.


December 15, 2021 - Educational Support, Comprehensive Plan, Salaries, Benefits, and Revenue
  • Technology requests in the 2022-2023 budget include replacement of a High School computer lab and additional cyber security needs.

  • The grant budget increased by the addition of the final round of stimulus funds from the federal government in the amount of $883,884. These funds will be used to improve air flow in our buildings if those bids are approved by the Board of Directors. 

  • A salary increase of 3.1% is budgeted for contractual increases to our teaching staff, support staff and administrators. Included in this line item is the cost for our day to day substitutes through ESS budgeted at $405,000.

  • The budget includes a benefit increase of $868,342 due to an increase in the state mandated PSERS rate increase of eligible salaries from 34.94% to an estimated 36%. We have also budgeted for an estimated 15% increase in health insurance. Final health insurance figures are anticipated to be released in time for the Final Proposed Budget in April.

  • Revenues are projected to increase by 1.57% with the majority of the increase coming from the state reimbursement of 50% of mandated retirement expenses and the increase in federal funding for the final round of stimulus funds (ESSER III).

Summary of the Budget Process 12/15/21:

  • The School Board passed the Resolution not to exceed the Act 1 Index of 3.4%

  • The net result of the budget items presented to the Board reflects a preliminary overall deficit of $4,942,706. This is the worst case scenario as it relates to projected school spending and revenues for the 2022-2023 school year. By passing the resolution at Wednesday’s (12/15/21) School Board Meeting, the Board has limited the tax increase for the 2022-2023 school year to 3.4%. There has been no determination what the tax increase will be by the time the Final Budget is approved in June, however, an increase for the 2022-2023 school year cannot be more than 3.4% (our district’s Act 1 index as specified by the PA Department of Education). A maximum 3.4% increase would mean a worst case increase of $136 for the average assessed household in the District. There is still a tremendous amount of work to be done on this budget by the School Board and Administration between now and when the final budget is passed in June.  We will continue to do our best to minimize our projected costs while balancing our ability to provide the best possible education for all of our students. The final budget with modifications will be presented on June 1, 2022. 

April 20, 2022 - Proposed Final Budget

Proposed Budget Form PDE 2028

The School Board approved the Proposed Final Budget presentation with a 3.4% tax increase as a “worst-case” scenario (millage increase of 3.944 mills for a new millage rate of 119.944 mills). If the budget remained as is, this would result in a real estate tax increase of roughly $135.18 to the average property owner.  The increase may still be adjusted to a lower rate, however it cannot exceed this amount at final budget.


The biggest driving force behind the expenditure budget increase is an increase in mandated special education costs of $393,725, increases in consortium purchased heating oil and vehicle fuel costs of $424,375, and an increase in state mandated retirement expenses of more than $250,000.


This budget shows the maximum potential tax increase allowable for the 2022-2023 year. The School Board and District Administration will continue to work toward making additional reductions to our expenditures or increases to our revenues for next year to limit any increase for taxpayers when the Final Budget is approved.


Final Budget is scheduled for a vote by the School Board on June 1.


June 1, 2022 - Final Budget

PDE 2028 Final Budget

The Board passed the Final Budget for 2022-2023 that included a 1.5% tax increase. The millage rate will be 117.74 mills. This will equate to a $4.73 increase to the average assessed household of the District. Due to an increase in state gaming relief to taxpayers, the effective tax increase is 0.12% 


Homeowner Tax Increase


Over the last twelve years, the District has faced an unfunded mandate for Charter School tuition (state mandate) that has increased 316%.


Charter School Expenditures


In those last twelve years, the real estate tax millage rate has increased 8%. Through prudent planning by our School Board and administrative team, tax increases for Palisades School District have averaged 0.66% per year.


Palisades SD Millage Rates


When comparing our millage rate with all other school districts in Bucks County, Palisades is the second lowest millage rate. It is important to note the lowest District receives $1.5M more in earned income tax than Palisades. 


This is the ninth year the School Board will use funds from the Retirement Spike Fund (a savings for mitigating increasing retirement expenses) to cover a significant increase in retirement contributions, topping more than 35.26% of eligible salaries; all school districts across the state have been facing this problem.  These funds are being utilized to offset this increasing cost, while not overburdening taxpayers with high spikes in the retirement rates. 


Other projects funded in this budget for the 2022-2023 school year from district savings (not requiring increased new tax dollars) include: Middle School air conditioning, stadium lighting upgrades, wastewater plant upgrades, High School LED sign, and several important safety and security upgrades.